Overview
- New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s election-night address drew sharp criticism from CNN’s Van Jones, who said he “missed an opportunity” with a harsh tone and a perceived “character switch.”
- Charlamagne Tha God rebuked Jones on The Breakfast Club, telling him to “shut the F up forever” while praising the speech as inclusive and a deserved celebration after the win.
- Other CNN panelists, including Scott Jennings and David Axelrod, said the remarks sounded divisive and “not mayor-like,” warning they signaled expansive government action and potential tax increases.
- Mamdani’s speech targeted landlords and billionaires, pledged work on policing, mental health and homelessness, and included a direct line to President Donald Trump to “turn the volume up.”
- Trump responded that Mamdani should be “very nice” to him, called the mayor-elect “off to a bad start,” and urged outreach to Washington, as clips of the speech and commentary spread widely online.