CNN anchor Van Jones had some sharp words for New York City’s new mayor-elect, Zohran Mamdani, after his fiery victory speech Tuesday night.
Jones, speaking on CNN’s election panel, said Mamdani’s tone was “too sharp” and marked “a character switch” from the friendly, relatable figure he portrayed on the campaign trail. “I think he missed a chance tonight to open up and bring more people into the tent,” Jones said. “That’s not the Mamdani we’ve seen on TikTok or in those warm interviews. The guy who connected with working people wasn’t on stage tonight.”
He acknowledged that the speech likely energized Mamdani’s base but warned it may alienate moderates. “There are a lot of people trying to figure out, can I get on this train with him or not?” Jones said. “Is he going to include me, or be more of a class warrior even in office?”
Still, Jones praised Mamdani’s historic victory. “He defeated Democratic Party royalty. The Cuomos — that’s a royal family in our party — and the oligarchs who tried to stop him, and then he beat Donald Trump,” Jones said. “That triumphalism you see? It’s earned.”
But he added a word of caution: “He’s very young, and I think he missed an opportunity to open himself up tonight. That’ll probably cost him going forward.”
Mamdani, 34, made history as New York City’s first Muslim mayor after defeating independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. In his impassioned speech, he declared victory “on behalf of immigrant New Yorkers” and took direct aim at President Donald Trump, saying, “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: to get any of us, you’ll have to get through all of us.”