Michael Rapaport’s Shift: From Trump Critic to Political Activism

Actor and podcaster Michael Rapaport has had quite a journey since March 2020. Back then, he referred to President Donald Trump as “the worst possible mother in power,” called Melania Trump a “stupid animal,” and even took jabs at Barron Trump.

Now, Rapaport, a Jewish liberal who distanced himself from the Democratic Party due to its handling of prisoners of war and immigration issues, has switched his loyalty to Trump during the last presidential election. He is currently supporting former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), hoping to prevent Rep. Zoran Mamdani (D) from winning the mayoral race in New York City.

“I’m a lifelong New Yorker raised in Manhattan. This mayoral race is the most crucial of my lifetime. Zoran Mamdani is simply unfit for office,” Rapaport expressed in a recent video.

He further criticized Mamdani, saying, “His twisted mind and hateful heart are rotten to the core. A ‘rent freeze’? Seriously? That would just decrease the number of buildings, raising rents. And defunding the police? That’ll only lead to increased crime.” He didn’t hold back. “The guy’s just plain stupid.”

If elected, Mamdani has proposed policies that include freezing rents for stable tenants, raising the corporate tax rate significantly, and levying a surcharge on high earners in New York. He has previously labeled the NYC Police Department as “racist” and has called for defunding the police. Ironically, he now claims he doesn’t want to pursue that path.

Recently, Rapaport has been actively campaigning against Mamdani, even fundraising for a committee focused on opposing him. He shared another video urging New Yorkers to take action, commenting, “We need to send this black-hearted 34-year-old with a fake smile back to the unemployment line.”

Current polling suggests Mamdani leads Cuomo by a significant margin of over 18 points. The poll also indicates that 26% of voters would consider leaving the city if Mamdani were elected.

Reflecting on his past, Rapaport admitted, “There was a time when I would vote Democratic without thinking. Now, with what they’ve become, I just don’t recognize them. Anyone with even a bit of moral decency can see what I’m talking about.”

He believes Democrats need to reconsider their leadership choices, as they are clearly on the wrong path. Rapaport took shots at Mamdani’s supporters, including well-known figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, particularly criticizing Mamdani’s reluctance to distance himself from controversial statements he made in the past.

After mentioning Mamdani’s connections to a controversial figure associated with the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, he urged, “Remember what happened on 9/11? That devastation? It tore families apart.”

“You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Rapaport concluded, urging supporters to donate to his efforts to challenge Mamdani.