Stephen King criticized the “pearl clutching” about New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after people voted for President Donald Trump.
Why It Matters
Mamdani became the first Muslim person to be elected mayor of New York City after being heavily criticized for his stance toward Israel. Mamdani refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which has been used as both a rallying cry for Palestinian rights and a call for violence against Israelis.
Mamdani has also been criticized for describing himself as a Democratic Socialist and pushing for government run grocery stores and free buses.
What to Know
King, a vocal critic of Trump and Republicans, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that it’s “amusing” that people who elected Trump, a “right-wing extremist,” are upset about Mamdani.
“It’s amusing, after electing a right-wing extremist as President, to watch all the pearl-clutching about Zohran Mamdani,” King posted. “Musk moans that ‘Western civilization is doomed.’”
On Wednesday morning, Musk posted on X that Western Civilization is “doomed” unless the “core weakness of suicidal empathy is recognized and actions are taken that are hard, but necessary for survival.” Musk previously encouraged people to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo because voting for Republican Curtis Sliwa was essentially a vote for Mamdani.
Musk did compliment Mamdani for his charisma, telling podcaster Joe Rogan that the then-mayoral candidate could “light up a stage.” However, Musk also called him a “swindler” and his policies would create a “significant decline” in living standards.
Trump also encouraged voters to cast their ballot for Cuomo in an effort to keep Mamdani from winning. After Tuesday’s elections, Trump blamed the shutdown and his not being on the ballot for why Republicans lost.
Democrats saw wins across the country, flipping governorships in Virginia and New Jersey and sweeping judicial races in Pennsylvania. The results could signal a shift in the country’s political direction, acting as a litmus test ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
What They’re Saying
Florida Republican Congressman Randy Fine, in a post on X: “Legal immigrants who hate America elected a Communist Muslim Jihadist. New York City has fallen. America is next if we don’t stop it.”
New York City Council member Inna Vernikov, born in Soviet Ukraine and a Democrat turned Republican, wrote on X: “Welcome to the USSR.”
What Happens Next
Mamdani will take office in January. With the slew of losses on Tuesday, Republicans have called for a reflection of their campaign plans to prepare for the 2026 midterms.