“New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been scrambling to come up with money to fund a major expansion of city government, and he has put the politics of envy at the center of his effort. This is bound to be a fiscal failure, but it\u2019s already a moral one,” The Washington Post editorial board<\/a> wrote.<\/p>\n Billionaire Ken Griffin \u2014 founder and CEO of Citadel, a hedge fund investment firm \u2014 described Mamdani’s video targeting him as “creepy and weird,”<\/a> and said Tuesday that New York City did not welcome success.<\/p>\n CHICAGO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KEN GRIFFIN TURNS ON A CITY, NOW MAMDANI MAY FIND OUT<\/a><\/p>\n On April 15, Mamdani posted a video highlighting Griffin\u2019s property while announcing a new pied-\u00e0-terre tax. (Kena Betancur\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n “The mayor didn\u2019t accuse Griffin of violating any laws or even dodging taxes<\/a>,” the Post wrote, noting Griffin’s reaction. “His only crime was owning a nice penthouse \u2014 that is, being a successful person. It was also unethical.”<\/p>\n Mamdani has said<\/a> he wants “all New Yorkers to succeed,” including Griffin, who the mayor noted was a major employer in the city.<\/p>\n However, he doubled down on his argument about the tax system. He said, “It rewards extreme wealth while working<\/a> people are pushed to the brink.”<\/p>\n MAMDANI’S ‘PAINFUL’ TAX HIKE THREAT MOCKED BY WASHINGTON POST FOR PROVING ‘SOCIALIST UTOPIA IS EXPENSIVE’<\/a><\/p>\n Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin described New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s “tax the rich” video targeting him as a “creepy and weird” political advertisement. (Krisztian Bocsi\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Mamdani’s press secretary, Joe Calvello, similarly told Fox News Digital in a statement: “Mayor Mamdani wants all New Yorkers to succeed. That includes business owners and entrepreneurs who create good-paying jobs and make this city the economic engine of America. It also includes Ken Griffin, who is a major employer in our City and a powerful figure in our economy.”\u00a0<\/p>\n “That does not negate the fact, however, that our tax system is fundamentally broken,” the statement continued. “It rewards extreme wealth while working people are pushed to the brink. The status quo is unsustainable and unjust. If we want this city to become a place that working people can afford, we need meaningful tax reform that includes the wealthiest New Yorkers contributing their fair share.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The Post noted reporting from Reuters<\/a> that said Griffin’s company said its “principals and team members have paid nearly $2.3 billion in city and state taxes over the past \u200bfive years.”<\/p>\n The Post also noted numerous donations Griffin has made to science, culture and education pursuits in the city.<\/p>\n “Philanthropy is a minor contribution compared with what his capitalist pursuits have done,” the Post wrote. “In pursuit of profit, he has generated wealth for countless people and contributed more in taxes than socialist demagogues ever will<\/a>,”\u00a0<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE<\/a><\/p>\n The Citadel founder is clashing with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over taxes targeting the ultra-wealthy and intensifying crime, reviving the same tensions that drove him to pull his business and billions out of Chicago. (Spencer Platt\/Aaron Schwartz\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n “Political leaders are role models for young people. In New York<\/a>, the most prominent politician is sending a message to them: Resent success rather than trying to emulate it. This isn\u2019t a new political tactic, and it\u2019s never ended well,” the Post wrote.<\/p>\n Others also took issue with Mamdani’s sentiment.<\/p>\n Author Daniel Friedman wrote, “Mamdani\u2019s ‘tax the rich’ agenda is based on the belief that Democratic Socialists can do whatever they want<\/a> to the rich and the rich will stay and tolerate it because NYC is irreplaceable. Mamdani is wrong.”<\/p>\n Former Mayor Eric Adams<\/a> posted twice to X on the matter, calling Mamdani’s video irresponsible.<\/p>\n “Mayor Mamdani\u2019s video targeting Ken Griffin and using his home as a prop traded thousands of real, good-paying jobs in our city for social media likes,” he said. “The video was irresponsible, and the Mayor should do the right thing and apologize.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams disagreed with Mamdani’s filming outside of Griffin’s home, calling it “irresponsible.” (Michael M. Santiago\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n In an “update” post, Adams noted that he communicated with Griffin.<\/p>\n![\"New](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/zohran-mamdani-may-day-rally-fox-news-001.jpeg\")
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