In a scathing Saturday editorial titled "Zohran Mamdani drops the mask," The Washington Post's editorial board accused New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani of revealing his true radical agenda through a "seething" 23-minute victory speech delivered just days after his landslide election win on November 4, 2025.
The piece, published online Saturday, declares that "a new era of class warfare has begun" in the nation's largest city, portraying Mamdani as abandoning his campaign's measured tone for a confrontational attack on "class enemies" like landlords and corporate bosses.
The editorial zeroes in on Mamdani's post-election rhetoric as a stark departure from his "cool disposition" during the campaign, where he positioned himself as a pragmatic progressive. Board members argue the speech exposed his intent to "crush" perceived exploiters rather than foster economic growth, noting the absence of the word "growth" while President Donald Trump — a frequent Mamdani foil — was mentioned eight times.
"It is about identifying class enemies... and then crushing them," the Post writes, framing his vision as redistributive socialism over broad prosperity.
The board questions whether he'll undermine respected Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch or turn subway stations into "dangerous social experiments" for the unhoused, warning that New Yorkers risk a return to the crime-plagued 1970s and 1980s under such leadership.
The critique has amplified conservative media backlash, with Fox News highlighting the Post's "blistering" tone and outlets like Matzav.com echoing concerns over Mamdani's inexperience and "all-powerful government" fixation.
Globally, Mamdani's win has drawn cheers from left-wing figures — including praise from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — but condemnation in Israel over his past criticisms of the country's policies. His transition team, featuring FTC Chair Lina Khan and other progressives, met with reporters in Queens on November 5, signaling an aggressive push on equity and worker rights.