‘I don’t think we should have billionaires’: mayor Zohran Mamdani in his own words

Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist who is now mayor of New York City, ran a campaign known for its soaring political rhetoric, its viral memes and its candidate’s witty quips.

Here are some of the quotes that came to define his historic push to lead one of the world’s most important cities:

1. In his victory speech, Mamdani, who was born in Uganda and moved to New York City with his family at age seven, asserted his direct opposition to Donald Trump’s aggressive anti-immigration agenda, celebrating the contributions of immigrants to the the city, and vowing to protect those communities against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

New York will remain a city of immigrants: a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant. So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.

2. In a heated exchange with independent candidate Andrew Cuomo during an October mayoral debate, Mamdani clapped back to criticisms about his lack of experience by highlighting grave failures under Cuomo’s tenure as state governor.

What I don’t have in experience, I make up for in integrity. And what you don’t have in integrity, you could never make up for with experience.

3. Mamdani, who grew up in the shadow of 9/11, has spoken many times about his experiences of Islamophobia – an issue that remained very much alive during the racially charged election. In a pointed response to Islamophobic attacks against him, Mamdani declared in his victory speech that rhetoric like that would no longer win elections in New York City.

No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election.

4. Mamdani’s snappy retort to a heckler yelling “communist” at him was an instant hit. The clip of the democratic socialist mounting a Citi Bike and cycling off became a viral moment in his campaign, bringing together his focus on affordable transit, cycling infrastructure, and his sense of humor.

It’s pronounced ‘cyclist’.

5. Mamdani remained unapologetic about his identity and values in his victory speech.

I am young, despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.

6. With affordability at the heart of Mamdani’s campaign, he made many statements on economic inequality and wanting to raise taxes on the city’s wealthiest.

I don’t think that we should have billionaires because, frankly, it is so much money in a moment of such inequality, and ultimately, what we need more of is equality across our city and across our state and across our country.

7. Mamdani’s “response to #burritogate” – where he had been pictured on the subway eating a burrito with a knife and fork.

I hear you. I see you. And if you’re a burrito on the Q train, I eat you.

8. Mamdani’s victory speech was watched far beyond the borders of New York City. It had resonance across the US, and the rest of the world, and into the White House itself. Mamdani, in directly taking on Trump during the address, showed he knew exactly who was watching.

If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him. So, if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!