New York: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the ongoing government shutdown was the main reason for his party’s defeat in the New York mayoral election against Zohran Mamdani.

Speaking at an event in New York, Trump said the shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, negatively affected voter sentiment and damaged the Republican Party’s chances. He blamed the Democrats for the deadlock, saying their stubbornness led to a loss of public trust.

Trump stressed that flaws in the voting system also contributed to the loss. He claimed that mail-in voting encourages fraud and corruption and should be abolished. “We must reform voter registration laws to make future elections fair and transparent,” he said.

The president added that reopening the government is now a national priority. “We need to get the country running again,” Trump said, urging Republicans to end the filibuster rule that often blocks key legislation.

Trump concluded by saying that fixing the voting system and ending the shutdown are essential steps to restore public confidence and ensure smooth governance.