Overview
- Van Jones said on CNN that Zohran Mamdani “missed an opportunity,” describing the victory speech as sharp, divisive, and a “character switch” from his warmer campaign style.
- Charlamagne Tha God condemned Jones on The Breakfast Club, defended the address as inclusive, and cited Mamdani’s pledges on policing, homelessness, mental health, and outreach to multiple communities.
- CNN’s Scott Jennings and David Axelrod also criticized the remarks, with Jennings pointing to class-conflict framing and Axelrod calling it a shouted introduction rather than a conversation with the city.
- Reports highlighted that Mamdani condemned landlords, billionaires, and Trump while appealing to immigrants, the trans community, Black women, Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers, and the working class.
- WION reported that Trump responded by urging cooperation with Washington and saying Mamdani was “off to a bad start.”