Zohran Mamdani is already revealing his true agenda of dividing “New Yorkers into two groups: the oppressed and their oppressors,” The Washington Post editorial board declared in a Saturday editorial.
The newly-elected New York City mayor’s victory speech on Tuesday made it clear that his “view of politics isn’t about unity” or “[increasing] wealth” but rather about handing wealth “out to favored groups,” the editorial board said.
The article describes Mamdani’s new “favorite word” as being “‘mandate’” because he will need “approval from the state to raise taxes” in order to achieve his agenda of “rent freezes,” “‘free’ child care and buses,” et cetera.
“His [Mamdani’s] transition team includes several New York political insiders who understand how to pull the levers of power, as well as diehard ideologues such as Lina Khan, the former Federal Trade Commission chair,” the editorial board explained.
Additionally, the Washington Post highlighted that “Mamdani has done nothing to suggest” he will back school children over “union bosses” when there’s a conflict of interest.
Mamdani has even stated that “he wants to phase out gifted-and-talented programs for elementary students,” the editorial board writes.
CNN commentator Van Jones also called Mamdani out for his “character switch.”
“I think the Mamdani that we saw on the campaign trail—who was a lot more calm, who was a lot warmer, who was a lot more embracing—was not present in that [victory] speech,” Jones said election night. “And I think that Mamdani is the one you need to hear from tonight.”
Many people are trying to discern whether Mamdani will actually include them in his efforts as mayor now, Jones said, adding that he thinks Mamdani “missed a chance” to welcome more people “into the tent.”
“I think his tone was sharp. I think he was using the microphone in a way that he was almost yelling,” Jones explained. “I feel like it was a little bit of a character switch here where the warm, open, embracing guy who’s close to working people was not on stage tonight, and there was some other voice on stage.”
While Mamdani touted many “free” things in his agenda on the campaign trail, his victory party for his supporters and volunteers at the Brooklyn Paramount actually consisted of a very pricey cash bar, noted Politico Reporter Jeff Coltin.
Beers were $13, espresso martini coolers cost $22, and glasses of Riesling white wine were $15, Coltin reported.
Social media was quick to point out Mamdani’s messaging didn’t match his reality. Said one user on X quoted by Conservative Brief, “Nothing says ‘for the people’ like charging $22 for a cocktail.”
