As the Boston mayoral election approaches, tensions are rising over President Donald Trump’s involvement in the political landscape.
Reports suggest that Trump may wade into the New York City mayoral race by supporting former governor Andrew Cuomo against Zohran Mamdani, causing ripples within Boston’s own contest.
Mayor Michelle Wu, meanwhile, is leveraging Trump’s actions to galvanize support for her campaign, using the national spotlight to push back against his influence.
Earlier this year, Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, announced plans to come to Boston and deliver threats, which prompted Wu to boldly defend Boston’s immigration policies before a congressional panel dominated by Republican lawmakers.
Adding to the drama, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a demand for the city to abandon its Trust Act, an ordinance that curbs collaboration between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials.
In the midst of this chaos, Josh Kraft, a mayoral candidate, faces an uphill battle in distancing himself from Trump.
Kraft has attempted to sever ties, moving from a gentle disagreement with his father to asserting in a television ad that both he and Wu view Trump as “unhinged.”
His campaign even circulated a flier stating, “Here in Boston, we don’t let lunatics like Donald Trump push us around.”
However, with the preliminary election set for September 9, it has become increasingly difficult for Kraft to dissociate himself from the Trump narrative.
When Kraft announced his candidacy in February, his story was immediately linked to his father Robert Kraft’s longstanding friendship with Trump.
Despite claims of cutting ties, Robert Kraft’s actions have complicated this separation, including his role in facilitating a partnership between Trump and a major law firm, as well as donations to a super PAC supporting Josh Kraft.
This connection to Trump, compounded by the president’s aggressive tactics aimed at Boston, influences the perception of Kraft within the city.
Polling reflects this challenge; Kraft trails Wu by 30 points in recent surveys.
Trump’s presence in the background is an obstacle Kraft can’t overlook as the race unfolds, particularly against an incumbent like Wu.
Wu has artfully taken Trump’s attacks on Boston and reframed them into a rallying cry for her campaign, invoking the city’s revolutionary history and ideals of democracy and freedom.
At a recent rally, Wu stated, “This has always been a city of revolution, of innovation, of standing up for the public good and never bowing down to tyranny.”
Her remarks were further charged with pointed jabs, including a critical comparison between Trump and the infamous Jeffrey Epstein.
She remarked, “Under the Trump administration, groceries are less affordable, housing is harder to build, cures for cancer are farther away, and good news on our economy has been as hard to find as the Epstein list.”
As the tension between the city and Bondi escalates, the outcome remains uncertain.
Bondi has demanded a response from Wu regarding the Trust Act by August 19, warning of potential legal consequences if the city ceases its resistance to Trump’s immigration policies.
In a recent Fox News appearance, Bondi threatened that cities defying these policies could face loss of federal funding and hinted at possible federal intervention.
In her reply to Bondi, Wu reiterated her commitment to Boston’s identity, saying, “Boston will never back down from being a beacon of freedom, and a home for everyone.”
As the election date draws near, it’s evident that the shadow of Trump looms large over Josh Kraft’s campaign, complicating his attempts to present a distinct identity in a city that largely rejects the former president.
image source from：bostonglobe
