New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani has been accused of presenting a “fake smile” during his campaign, concealing what some describe as a “toxic” personality. Gad Saad, an evolutionary psychologist, shared these insights on a recent episode of “Pod Force One.” Saad noted that many New Yorkers mistakenly interpreted Mamdani’s cheerful facade as authentic.
“What you’ve done in New York is remarkable,” Saad remarked, alluding to Mamdani’s persona. “You picked someone charming and smiley. Good luck; it was quite a journey,” he added during his conversation with host Miranda Devine.
According to Saad, Mamdani’s passionate victory speech last November revealed his true self to the public.
“When you’re in a minority, stay silent and act like a victim,” Saad commented. “But once you’re in charge, suddenly that happy face can turn fierce.” He emphasized how this shift can manifest, stating, “When I’m in control, that fake smile may transform into something more alarming.”
Miranda Devine, along with opinions from figures like Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and even “Saturday Night Live,” suggested that Mamdani might have used a smile to distract from concerns about his political agenda.
Saad pointed out that Mamdani’s smile lacked the qualities of a genuine “Duchenne smile,” a term coined by 19th-century neurologist Guillaume Duchenne to describe authentic smiles that engage specific facial muscles. “A real smile is one that reflects true feelings,” he explained. “A non-Duchenne smile, however, lacks that authenticity.”
Saad expressed disbelief that many New Yorkers didn’t seem to question Mamdani’s sincerity. “Everyone knows someone who smiles like that in family pictures,” he stated. “It’s surprising that people don’t see through it.” He added, “Nothing could be further from reality.”
Saad attributed part of the voters’ reactions to a phenomenon he called “self-delusion.” He stressed that unless one is a psychopath, there are subtle cues that indicate when someone is being deceptive. “People are often oblivious to these clues and convince themselves otherwise,” he argued.
“To effectively ignore these signals, one has to deceive oneself first,” he concluded, suggesting that many simply don’t realize the truth about Mamdani.
