Mamdani Under Fire Over Resurfaced 2021 Video Endorsing Socialist Goals

Democratic New York City mayoral campaigner and self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani is facing disapproval complete remarks made astatine a Young Democratic Socialists of America conference, wherever he urged attendees not to discuss connected goals for illustration "seizing nan intends of production."

During nan quality — which was portion of a 2021 YDSA wintertime convention — Mamdani, past recently elected to nan New York State Assembly, lamented that galore socialist principles stay extracurricular nan governmental mainstream.

"Right now, if we're talking astir nan cancellation of student debt, if we're talking astir Medicare for all, you know, these are issues which person nan groundswell of celebrated support crossed this country," Mamdani says successful a video to convention goers. "But past location are besides different issues that we firmly judge in, whether it's BDS aliases whether it is nan extremity end of seizing nan intends of production, wherever we do not person nan aforesaid level of support astatine this very moment."

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Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayoral candidate, left, raises hands pinch Reverend Al Sharpton, laminitis and president of nan National Action Network, during a run arena astatine nan NAN House of Justice successful nan Harlem vicinity of New York City connected Saturday, June 28, 2025. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Mamdani went connected to opportunity that it was "critical" for group not to discuss connected these little celebrated ideas, contempt publically asserting this week he is "not a communist." 

"It's critical, nan measurement that we organize, nan measurement that we group up our — you know, group up our activity and our priorities, that we do not time off immoderate 1 rumor for nan other, that we do not meet a infinitesimal and only look astatine what group are fresh for, but that we are doing some of these things successful tandem," Mamdani continues successful his convention address. "Because it is captious for america to some meet group wherever they're astatine and to besides shape for what is correct and for what is right, and to guarantee that, complete time, we tin bring group to that issue."

On Monday, nan video of Mamdani speaking astatine nan 2021 YDSA convention began making nan rounds connected societal media.

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"Mamdani’s socialism nomenclature is nary joke aliases aspiration," billionaire Bill Ackman said successful consequence to nan video arsenic it began appearing connected societal media. "It is nan business scheme of a activity that he is starring and, for now, winning. Don’t trust connected my summary. Listen to him speak his ain words."

"Mamdani smiles for illustration a crocodile arsenic he says his extremity end is to elite much socialists and prehend nan intends of production," President Donald Trump's crypto and artificial intelligence czar added successful consequence to nan video. "Democrats person go nan statement of nan Luigi Left, Tesla Terrorism, and Crocodile Communists."

Fox News Digital reached retired to Mamdani's run for a consequence to these criticisms but did not person a consequence successful clip for publication.

Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayoral candidate, rolls up his sleeves during a run arena successful New York connected Monday, June 23, 2025.  (Adam Gray/Bloomberg)

Last week, Trump personally criticized Mamdani, who upset erstwhile New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo successful nan NYC mayoral superior earlier this month, arsenic a "100% communist lunatic."

"It’s yet happened, nan Democrats person crossed nan line," Trump wrote. "We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a small ridiculous." Trump doubled down connected nan communist declare this week successful an question and reply pinch Fox Business, adding that, if elected, Mamdani amended "behave" aliases consequence his metropolis losing national funding. 

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Trump called Mamdani a "100% Communist lunatic" aft his Tuesday nighttime Democratic superior triumph successful nan title to go New York City's adjacent mayor. (Getty Images)

In consequence to Trump's disapproval of being a "communist," Mamdani straight refuted nan declare to NBC News complete nan weekend. 

"No, I americium not," Mamdani responded erstwhile asked point-blank by NBC's Kristen Welker. "I person already had to commencement to get utilized to nan truth that nan president will talk astir really I look, really I sound, wherever I'm from, who I am, ultimately, because he wants to distract from what I'm fighting for. And I'm fighting for nan very moving group that he ran a run to empower that he has since past betrayed.

"When we talk astir my politics, you know, I telephone myself a Democratic socialist successful galore ways inspired by nan words of Dr. [Martin Luther] King from decades ago, who said, ‘Call it democracy, telephone it Democratic-Socialism, location has to beryllium a amended distribution of wealthiness for each of God’s children successful this country."