Rudy Giuliani Calls New York City Mayor Election ‘Disaster’ for America

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani condemned the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as the city’s mayor, calling it a “disaster” and a political “gift” to Republicans. Giuliani expressed deep disappointment that voters chose Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and vocal critic of Israel, to succeed Mayor Eric Adams. He claimed the decision marked the end of New York City’s 20-year era of stability under leaders like Mike Bloomberg and Ray Kelly.

Giuliani accused Mamdani of being a “communist” and a supporter of extremist Islamist causes, arguing that his leadership would worsen the city’s decline. He warned that Mamdani’s policies—ranging from fare-free transit to higher taxes on corporations—would serve as a rallying point for Republicans nationwide. “This man becomes our poster child for the rest of America,” Giuliani said, questioning whether such governance should be allowed in states like Oklahoma or North Carolina.

Mamdani, 34, ran on an aggressive socialist agenda, including universal childcare and a $30 minimum wage by 2030, while also drawing attention for his criticism of Israel and advocacy for the Palestinian cause. With 97% of precincts reporting, he secured 50.5% of the vote, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Giuliani argued that Mamdani’s “sympathy with Islamic extremists” posed a threat to New York, the nation’s most targeted city for terrorism. “This is a disaster for New York City,” he said, adding it was also a “big gift to the Republican Party.”