New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was ripped for 'demonizing' one of the city's richest billionaires after sharing a threatening video touting new taxes outside the tycoon's $238 million condo.
Mamdani, 34, drew backlash for filming a promo video for his proposed 'pied-a-terre tax' outside the Manhattan apartment of hedge fund manager Ken Griffin this week.
The socialist mayor cited Griffin as the ideal target of his new tax scheme, which would introduce an annual surcharge on all luxury homes in the Big Apple valued at over $5 million if they are being used as a second home.
Mamdani pointed up to Griffin's lavish apartment as he announced the policy, saying the tax policy would specifically hit high-value residences 'like this penthouse.'
'When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich,' Mamdani said.
Griffin broke the record for the most expensive home purchase in the US when he snapped up the Manhattan penthouse in 2019, but his primary residence is in Miami, Florida after relocating his hedge fund Citadel in 2022.
After Mamdani's clip circulated social media, CNBC anchor Sara Eisen slammed the Democrat for calling out a private citizen and 'demonizing' Griffin to promote his tax policy.
'Ken Griffin employs thousands of people in NYC and is planning to build the tallest office tower on Park Ave., investing billions more and creating thousands more jobs,' Eisen said in defense of the billionaire.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was ripped for 'demonizing' one of the city's richest billionaires after sharing a threatening video touting new taxes outside his $238 million condo this week
Mamdani cited Citadel founder Ken Griffin as a prime example of who he is targeting with his new pied-a-terre tax, which would introduce an annual surcharge on all luxury homes in the Big Apple valued at over $5 million if they are not used as a primary residence
After Mamdani's clip circulated social media, CNBC anchor Sara Eisen slammed the Democrat for calling out a private citizen and 'demonizing' Griffin to promote his tax policy
Eisen said Griffin, who boasts a net worth of over $50 billion, was being unfairly targeted by Mamdani and warned the mayor would only drive the businessman's wealth out of the city.
'Making him feel unwelcome and demonizing him seems risky,' Eisen said.
'Ken left Chicago and moved Citadel HQ to Miami a few years ago because of bad policy. (He also sold his penthouse there),' she noted.
Eisen added that while Chicago and New York City are driving billionaires like Griffin away, other cities - notably Miami - are doing the opposite.
'Meantime Miami is welcoming him and his firm, with the massive jobs, investment and tax revenue he’s bringing,' she said.
The Daily Mail has contacted Mamdani for comment on backlash to his video about Griffin.
Mamdani rolled out the pied-a-terre tax scheme this week as he marked his first 100 days in office.
Eisen (pictured) said Griffin was being unfairly targeted by Mamdani and warned the socialist mayor would only drive the businessman's wealth out of the city
Griffin broke the record for the most expensive home purchase in the US when he snapped up the Manhattan penthouse in 2019 for a staggering $238 million (seen inside)
At a press conference boasting of his left-wing platform, Mamdani said he was working to raise taxes across the Big Apple while shrinking the police force.
'No longer will city government be afraid of its own shadow. If anyone should be afraid, it is those who take advantage of working people,' Mamdani declared.
It comes after Mamdani allegedly tried to slip diversity, equity and inclusion measures past the Trump administration by removing direct references to DEI from a racial equity plan he released last week.
The 34-year-old mayor justified the Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan (REP) by citing a $180,000 racial wealth gap in the city.
'Now, in this report, what we've seen, it's a report that is both coupled with a true cost of living report, is that the inequities in this city, the racial inequities are stark,' Mamdani said on Tuesday.
'We are talking about findings that have shown that the wealth of a median white household in the city is more than $200,000, while that of a black household is less than $20,000.'
The plan aligns with Mamdani's $127 billion budget for 2027, which includes higher taxes on wealthy residents and a reduction of the NYPD by 5,000 officers.
