Overview
- Conservative media have turned Zohran Mamdani into a marquee foil, with the Associated Press documenting labels like “communist” and “jihadist sympathizer” and noting his emergence as a key target heading into 2026.
- Mamdani launched a grassroots appeal to raise $4 million for transition operations, reporting more than $1 million by Nov. 14 from 12,707 donors, while vowing to avoid wealthy contributors and citing the need to vet 50,000 resumes.
- A transition aide, Hassaan Chaudhary, apologized for decade-old anti-Israel and antisemitic posts highlighted by the New York Post, as the campaign called the comments reprehensible and Republican officials pressed for his ouster.
- Reporting on Mamdani’s endorsement of activist Aber Kawas for a Queens Assembly seat spurred backlash after clips of her 9/11 remarks resurfaced, drawing criticism from right-wing commentators and Sen. Ted Cruz.
- Eric Trump accused Mamdani of being a communist hostile to Jews and Indians, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams warned Jewish New Yorkers to be vigilant during a Tel Aviv event, and the Anti-Defamation League launched a “Mamdani Monitor” to track the transition.