Newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, is already facing criticism online – less than 24 hours after his victory.
Zohran Mamdani, after his victory in the New York mayoral race, promised several major “freebies” as part of his socialist policy platform:
Free bus rides for everyone across New York City
Free universal childcare for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years
Freeze on rent prices for over 2 million rent-stabilized apartments
City-owned grocery stores focused on keeping prices low (not making a profit)
Expansion of the city’s 3-K program to greatly reduce childcare costs for low-income families
Five ‘People’s Markets’ per borough with staples (rice, milk, produce) at wholesale prices
Regulation of delivery services and more support for small businesses
Soon after the results were declared, Mamdani posted a video on X thanking New Yorkers and outlining what the transition period would look like. He noted that there was “a lot of work to be done” and called on his supporters to contribute to the transition process. While he reminded viewers that he had earlier asked them to stop sending campaign donations, he said assistance was now needed to hire experts and build infrastructure as part of the handover process.
“Thank you, New York City. Together we made history. Now let’s get to work,” Mamdani wrote, sharing the video.
Thank you, New York City. Together we made history.
Now let’s get to work. https://t.co/G7F2sbda74 pic.twitter.com/GQABMqJHgn
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 5, 2025
However, the move drew immediate backlash online, with several users accusing the new mayor of hypocrisy and opportunism. Critics pointed out that it was “barely a day since the win” and yet Mamdani was already soliciting funds, despite campaigning on promises of providing “free” services and economic relief. Some also questioned his credibility, alleging that figures close to George Soros had funded his campaign and suggesting he should “ask his billionaire friends first before appealing to taxpayers.”
Others described his appeal as tone-deaf, arguing that a politician who won on a populist socialist platform should not be requesting public donations so soon after victory.
Mamdani is set to be sworn in on 1 January 2026, and his transition team is expected to formally begin work in the coming weeks.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
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