Mayor Zohran Mamdani is riding high. In an era when the public is sour on politics, recent polls show him actually becoming more popular among New Yorkers. Some of that is vibes: the Knicks’ NBA championship, the World Cup, and even Taylor Swift’s secret wedding in the city.
But Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is also flexing his political power in new ways. His endorsement of three progressive House candidates cemented his role as a kingmaker in the Democratic Party. He also has many detractors — on the right and among Democratic leaders in Washington who worry about his influence.
On Netanyahu: ‘He Belongs in The Hague’
Mamdani told The New York Times that he is considering whether to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the UN General Assembly in September. He described Netanyahu as a “war criminal”.
“Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do,” Mamdani said. However, he noted he is still consulting with the city’s Law Department to determine if he has the authority to order the NYPD to detain a foreign leader. His position has softened from a firmer campaign promise to a more cautious legal approach.
On AOC: ‘She Would Make a Good Anything’
Mamdani discussed his “partnership” with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calling her an “inspiration”. When asked if he would endorse her for president, he said he’s “excited to see what decision she makes” and that she would “make a good anything”. The partnership, he said, is rooted in a “belief in the collective” and the need for partners at every level of government to achieve his affordability agenda.
On Trump: ‘Part of the Corrosion of Political Life’
Mamdani was asked about President Trump sharing a video calling for him to be criminalized and deported. His response: “I think that it’s part of the corrosion of political and public life. This is, frankly, something that I don’t even blink at anymore”. He noted that he is protected by the NYPD but warned that the “normalization of political violence” makes it acceptable toward any “other” in the city and country.
He has also spoken about his family’s experience with immigration courts, sharing the story of waiting nervously outside 26 Federal Plaza for his father’s citizenship interview, a moment that shaped his commitment to the city’s sanctuary policies.
The Bottom Line
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is using his political capital to pursue an affordability agenda and cement his influence in the Democratic Party. In a wide-ranging interview, he discussed his partnership with AOC, his cautious approach to the possible arrest of Netanyahu, and his defiance against Trump’s threats. He also shared a personal story about his family’s immigration experience that informs his commitment to New York’s sanctuary city policies.
