Bill Maher Calls NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani a “Communist”
On his show Monday, HBO’s Bill Maher surprised comedian David Cross by labeling New York City’s Democratic Mayor Zoran Mamdani as a “communist.” Mamdani has made headlines with his progressive agenda, promoting significant tax hikes for high earners, a rent freeze, free childcare, and city-operated grocery stores during his campaign.
The discussion heated up when Cross identified himself as a “democratic socialist.” Maher quickly interjected, saying, “If you even call yourself a socialist, you are clearly to my left.”
Cross, married to actress Amber Tamblyn, clarified, “Well, I said I was a democratic socialist.”
Maher responded, “I know what a ‘democratic socialist’ is. That’s Mamdani. Who is a genuine communist.”
Cross laughed and exclaimed, “No, no! No, no! Bill!”
This year, the New York State Legislature passed a budget featuring tax increases for wealthy residents and corporations, a move advocated by Mamdani despite New York already having one of the highest tax burdens in the U.S.
“First of all, he is. He has someone working for him named Sea Weaver. Have you read about her?” Maher asked.
Cross admitted, “Not at all.”
“Look, that means you’re in the bubble, because you should be,” Maher replied.
Cross then encouraged Maher to “enlighten” him.
Maher continued, “She’s saying things like, ‘I’m going to fix houses,’ and that’s kind of why we elected him. He hasn’t disowned her, so I can show you all the tweets and quotes she’s sent out over the last few years, and one of them is ‘elect more communists.’
Weaver had called for more communists to be elected in a December 2017 post. Just months later, she tweeted, “Take Private Land!”
Maher expressed, “I don’t think you need to read between the lines when someone who supports him and stands by him is saying that. And her other words are, ‘All homeownership is racist.’
Cross acknowledged, “Well, that’s ridiculous. I have a problem with what she said. I don’t know this woman. I’ll definitely look into it. I’m a fan of Mamdani.”
Weaver, appointed by Mamdani as director of the Office of Tenant Protection, has stirred controversy. She called homeownership a “weapon of white supremacy” in a 2019 post, despite her own mother being a professor who owns a house valued at over $1 million.
