Pete Davidson recently shared a candid message with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Monday night. The comedian, 32, was informed by Kimmel, the show’s host, that the 34-year-old mayor would be joining them shortly. As a lifelong resident of NYC, Davidson was asked if he had any questions for Mamdani.
“Yes, could he fix the f—–g BQE, please?” Davidson responded, a remark that garnered enthusiastic applause from the audience.
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) has faced ongoing criticism for heavy traffic and outdated infrastructure. Davidson’s assertion struck a chord, and Kimmel acknowledged the positive audience reaction.
“You hit on something,” Kimmel commented, to which Davidson, laughing, remarked that this was the loudest response he had ever received.
Davidson, known for his role on “Saturday Night Live,” expressed frustration over the seemingly perpetual construction on the BQE, which he said had been going on for ages. “It feels like no one is actually doing anything,” he explained, sharing his observations of workers just standing around. “Someone’s just standing there eating a sandwich or on the phone, and there are all these cones around.” He added, half-jokingly, about some hidden agenda behind the slow progress.
Kimmel reassured Davidson that he would be sure to ask Mamdani about it during the mayor’s segment. “Yeah, please!” Davidson encouraged.
When Mamdani appeared later on the program, Kimmel relayed Davidson’s concern, noting that the comedian felt no work was being done on the highway. Mamdani responded by outlining a significant $4 billion plan aimed at rehabilitating the city’s section of the BQE, set to kick off in 2030. He assured that the project would focus on safety without diverting traffic into local areas.
“Pete’s daughter will also be complaining about this,” Kimmel joked, prompting laughter from the audience.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, entered office after an unexpected win in the mayoral race last November, which was fueled by strong social media engagement and community efforts.
While Davidson often mixes humor with politics, he’s been vocal about his views, previously criticizing former President Donald Trump and supporting Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. Recently, in a separate interview, he mentioned that he’s in the process of removing most of his almost 200 tattoos, explaining that they reflected a painful past, with some originally intended to cover scars. However, he plans to keep his tattoo of Hillary Clinton, expressing admiration for her as a “good friend.”
