Zohran Mamdani has officially been confirmed as New York City’s new mayor — making history with his appointment and already sparking plenty of discussion.
At 34 years old, Mamdani, a democratic socialist, didn’t hold back from sharing his thoughts after his victory, even addressing President Donald Trump in the process. When he’s sworn in on January 1, 2026, he’ll become the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor — a milestone moment for New York.
His proposed policies have stirred debate among the city’s wealthy residents, particularly his plan to raise the corporate tax rate to 11.5 percent and introduce a flat two percent tax for New Yorkers earning more than $1 million a year. While some in the upper class aren’t thrilled with these ideas, many everyday New Yorkers have praised Mamdani’s focus on fairness and community investment.
Earlier this month (October 5), rapper 50 Cent shared an AI-generated image on Instagram that appeared to mock the direction of the city under Mamdani’s leadership. The artist — whose real name is Curtis James Jackson III — has also joked in the past about paying for the mayor to move away from New York, saying in June: “Where did he come from? Whose friend is this? I’m not feeling this plan.”
When asked about the comments during an interview on The Beat with Ari Melber, Mamdani responded with humor: “I didn’t even know what my salary would be until I saw this post on Instagram! I was like, ‘That’s a very specific amount of money!’”
He added lightheartedly, “Even though we disagree on tax policy, I still enjoy his music.”
Mamdani also took the opportunity to explain the reasoning behind his proposed tax changes: “I believe that asking the top one percent of New Yorkers — those earning more than a million dollars a year — to contribute just two percent more could help transform life in our city for everyone, including them. When we invest in libraries, public services, and clean streets, we all benefit.”
Being a public figure means dealing with criticism, and Mamdani seems to be handling it with grace and humor. His calm, optimistic approach shows that he’s focused on his vision of building a fairer, better-funded New York City — one that works for everyone.