New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, hasn’t taken office yet. But he’s already the new avatar of evil for conservative media figures.
He’s been called “downright sinister” and “incompatible with America.” His labels include commie, Marxist, jihadist sympathizer and “seething leftist.” Fox News’ Laura Ingraham warned her viewers not to be fooled by “smiling socialists who rule like Soviet tyrants.”
A New York Post post-election cover depicted Mamdani holding aloft the Soviet Union’s hammer and sickle symbol, selling out on newsstands by noon and being offered on eBay for $75.
Conservative outlets see Mamdani joining the ranks of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi as a figure guaranteed to ignite anger among their audiences, further galvanizing Republican support in the upcoming midterm elections.
“He’s colorful, controversial and not afraid of a fight,” said Howard Polskin, publisher of the Righting newsletter. As he steps into the limelight, Mamdani is already seen as the next major target of conservative pundits.
The new bogeyman for conservative media
The capitalized attention Mamdani has garnered is reminiscent of earlier political bogeymen, with conservative coverage fixating on his ties to progressive causes and his appeal to working-class Americans. “Mamdani is set to be the new Pelosi or AOC for Republicans,” suggested Rob Bluey, president of the Daily Signal.
Critics within conservative media have interpreted Mamdani’s victory speech as an ominous sign of his political intentions, with some publications questioning his political ideology and labeling him as a foreign-born threat.
Newsmax’s Rob Schmitt echoed similar sentiments, asserting that Mamdani represents a growing diversity that threatens conservative values.
A socialist or a communist?
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, finds himself at the center of a complex debate regarding socialism versus communism in conservative media narratives. On mainstream platforms, such as NBC’s “Meet the Press,” he has denied being a communist.
However, the conflation of socialism with communism has proved useful for Mamdani's detractors, with a Fox News headline declaring “Commie takeover in the Big Apple.”
The media portrayal has extended beyond party affiliation and political theory, with Mamdani's Muslim background also drawing considerable skepticism from various quarters, notably regarding his stance on Palestine and Israel.
Despite the overt hostility from certain conservative factions, Mamdani has attempted to navigate the landscape with a focus on unity and community, denouncing the baseless religious attacks against him.
Making Mamdani the leader of his party in consumers’ eyes
As the right-wing media machine pivots to focus on Mamdani, many are attempting to paint him as the quintessential representation of his party’s ideology. This demonstrates a broader strategy to leverage his unfamiliarity as a vehicle for their message.
“Mamdani is perceived as a new fringe representative of the Democratic Party,” noted Angelo Carusone from Media Matters for America, indicating the urgency in conservative circles to diminish his appeal among younger voters.
As the conversation around Mamdani evolves, it remains to be seen how he will navigate the challenges presented by a media landscape keen to define him before he has fully settled into office.
