It’s pretty interesting.
Socialist Zohran Mamdani believes billionaires shouldn’t exist, yet without proper financial transparency and amid the influence of George Soros—who has a considerable presence in political funding—he might struggle to secure the mayoral seat in New York City.
Mamdani expressed his views during a recent NBC News interview, asserting, “Honestly, I don’t think there should be billionaires.” He went on to propose increasing property taxes in affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods if he were to become mayor.
Interestingly, in less than ten years, Soros’ Open Society Foundation has funneled at least $37 million into various worker-focused initiatives, which have been crucial in supporting Mamdani’s challenge against former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary.
Since 2016, the Working Families Party (WFP), which aligns with socialist ideals, has aided Mamdani by facilitating deals that bolster his position against Cuomo, with backing from Soros’ network.
Moreover, about $13.9 million was allocated to nine nonprofits and their fundraising efforts, all of which have backed Mamdani’s mayoral campaign and his progressive policies, including his strong stance on immigrant rights and criticisms of Israel.
“While Zohran Mamdani demonizes job creators and wealth, he stands to gain significantly from a vast nonprofit network that pretends to stand apart from billionaire influence,” Mayor Eric Adams remarked.
The mayor emphasized that clear leadership should unify, not vilify, those who achieve success. Adams, who has roots in poverty himself, serves as a testament to what he calls the “American Dream.”
He further stated, “Claiming there should be no billionaires is not just extreme; it goes against American values,” reinforcing his belief in the importance of success.
Douglas Kellogg, a director at a conservative anti-tax organization, weighed in, stating it’s not surprising that Soros’ funding is behind Mamdani’s campaign. He likened Soros to a “comic book villain,” claiming his contributions undermine individual freedoms globally.
Kellogg warned that a Mamdani mayorship could lead to a significant exodus of “productive, law-abiding citizens” from New York.
Soros and his family haven’t made direct donations to Mamdani, but Patrick Gaspard—who was formerly with the Open Society Foundation and has deep ties to various liberal movements—has played a significant role behind the scenes.
Gaspard recently met with Mamdani, discussing strategies to unify efforts against Cuomo.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa criticized Mamdani, suggesting he doesn’t aim to eliminate billionaires but rather to silence those not in line with his radical policies.
Businessman John Catsimatidis also voiced his concerns, emphasizing that Mamdani should be more open about his links to Soros. He argued that America is about freedom and questioned the negativity surrounding billionaires who create jobs.
New York currently boasts the highest number of billionaires of any city globally, with 123 individuals in that category.
The debate continues between Mamdani and Catsimatidis over the proposal of community-run grocery stores, with Catsimatidis even suggesting he might limit his business operations if Mamdani were elected.
As of now, neither Soros nor Mamdani has responded to inquiries for comments.
