Andrew Cuomo unleashed a blunt critique of Zohran Mamdani, arguing the mayoral contender paints himself as a victim while repeatedly offending many New Yorkers. Cuomo says Mamdani’s actions and associations have alienated Jews, 9/11 families, Italian-Americans, LGBTQ residents, and even some Muslims, and he framed those moves as campaign liabilities. The former governor made his case while accepting endorsements from several faith leaders and insisted the issue is about responsibility and respect, not identity politics.
Cuomo called Mamdani his “main opponent” and used sharp language to characterize the campaign’s tone. “He claims that he is the victim of attacks because he is a Muslim. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is not a victim, he is the offender,” Cuomo said on Saturday. That line set the stage for a sustained critique of statements and associations Cuomo says have hurt communities across the city.
He outlined a roster of groups he says have been alienated by Mamdani’s words and gestures, naming Jews, Black New Yorkers, Italian-Americans, members of the LGBTQ community, and even some Muslims. Cuomo stressed that politics in New York requires coalition-building, not repeated slights that fracture neighborhoods. His message was direct: if you want to lead a city of diverse people, you do not start by antagonizing broad swaths of the electorate.
Cuomo singled out the Jewish community with a personal anecdote about fear on the streets, noting a New Yorker who admitted being afraid to wear a Star of David. He said that kind of worry is “truly painful” and pointed to the sheer size of the Jewish population in the city to underline the stakes. In Cuomo’s telling, leaders have a duty to lift anxiety rather than amplify it.
The former governor also criticized Mamdani for not repudiating a controversial slogan, pointing to the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many interpret as a call to violence against Jewish people. Cuomo argued that refusing to clearly condemn such rhetoric is a serious problem for anyone seeking to be mayor of New York. The point was simple: ambiguity on calls for violence is not acceptable from a candidate who wants to keep the city safe.
On another front, Cuomo said Mamdani’s support for decriminalizing prostitution struck at the core of beliefs held by many Sunni Muslims. He referenced the Quran and called prostitution haram, insisting religious norms matter to many voters and should be treated with sensitivity. In Cuomo’s view, policy positions that clash with deeply held religious values deserve both explanation and care.
Cuomo also criticized a gesture toward a Columbus statue, saying it offended Italian-Americans who take pride in their heritage. He framed symbolic acts like that as more than political theater, arguing they have real consequences for community trust. For him, symbolism can either build bridges or burn them, and Mamdani’s choices leaned toward the latter.
Photos matter, Cuomo noted, bringing up an image of Mamdani with a Ugandan official who backs harsh anti-gay laws and calling it an affront to LGBTQ New Yorkers. That photograph, Cuomo said, raised questions about judgment and priorities in a city that has fought long battles for equal rights. For many voters, such optics are not neutral—they signal character.
The former governor also pointed to Mamdani’s association with controversial online figures, including the streamer who once said “America deserved 9/11,” as evidence of poor alliances. Cuomo used that connection to underscore how a candidate’s network reflects their tolerance for extreme remarks. He presented it as more than guilt by association; Cuomo saw it as part of a pattern that matters at the ballot box.
“You offend 9/11 families. You offend every New Yorker because 9/11 was an attack on all New Yorkers, and it traumatized all New Yorkers. So, no, he’s not the victim. He is the offender, and he has done a great deal of damage,” Cuomo said, repeating the blunt judgment that anchored his critique. Those words were aimed to remind voters of the weight of collective memory and the need for leaders who unite after trauma rather than exploit it.
The endorsements from faith leaders that accompanied Cuomo’s remarks were meant to signal a coalition around respect for tradition and community ties. In a city where faith institutions still play a role in neighborhood life, that backing was presented as a corrective to what Cuomo framed as divisive politics. The debate now turns to whether voters will prioritize tone, associations, and demonstrated respect as they weigh their choices at the polls.
Graduate Student, wife, engaged political and legal writer.