New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, hasn’t taken office yet. However, he’s already being portrayed as an embodiment of evil by conservative media figures.
He’s been labeled “downright sinister” and “incompatible with America,” with terms like commie, Marxist, and jihadist sympathizer thrown in. Fox News’ Laura Ingraham warned that viewers should not be fooled by “smiling socialists who rule like Soviet tyrants.”
A New York Post cover depicted Mamdani holding the Soviet hammer and sickle, selling out on newsstands and being resold at $75 on eBay. This has contributed to the perception that Mamdani is the latest leftist villain for conservative audiences, joining the ranks of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hillary Clinton.
Howard Polskin, publisher of the newsletter “the Righting,” stated, “It's clear he’s going to be a top target for right-wing media into 2026.”
Rob Bluey from the Daily Signal remarked that Mamdani poses a potential threat with his appeal to working-class Americans, similar to the allure that Trump had, albeit with differing ideologies.
Furthermore, critics have taken issue with Mamdani’s Muslim background and his connection to the Democratic Socialists of America. During an NBC interview, he clarified, “No, I am not [a communist],” emphasizing the distinctions between socialism and communism that many in the media have chosen to overlook.
Reflecting concerns about Mamdani's election, commentators have associated him with various controversial sentiments surrounding identity and ideology, suggesting that his policies could threaten traditional values.
As Mamdani readies for his tenure, he faces a media landscape that has already solidified him as a target of intense scrutiny and projection of ideological fears.
