New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani highlighted Citadel CEO Ken Griffin's Manhattan penthouse in a viral video announcing the new pied-à-terre tax. (Credit: NORGES BANK INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT)
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday that he tried to meet with billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin after the hedge fund executive blasted the mayor's “Tax the Rich” video directed at him.
Mamdani said a member of his team reached out to Griffin but he did not respond.
“We reached out to establish the meeting,” said Mamdani on Friday. “We are still waiting to hear.”
“That continues to be an open invitation, and it is part of the invitations that I have made to many businessmen throughout the city,” he continued. “I'm there to listen and have a conversation that goes beyond areas of agreement, but maybe areas of disagreement to hear honest reflection and criticism, without putting any condition on the nature of that conversation.”
BILLIONAIRE SAYS MADDANI'S 'TAX THE CHCH' VIDEO OUTSIDE HIS NYC APARTMENT 'BAD' AND 'SHOCKING'
On April 15th (Tax Day), NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a video outside Ken Griffin's Manhattan apartment promoting a new “tax-the-rich” policy. (Spencer Platt/Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images/Getty Images)
The connection comes after Mamdani posted a video on April 15 highlighting Griffin's property while promoting a new pied-à-terre tax proposal.
In the video, the mayor — who has promised to raise taxes on New York's wealthy — stood outside Griffin's 24,000-square-foot home, which Griffin bought in 2019 for $238 million, the most expensive place to live in American history.
Griffin later criticized the video, calling it a “scary and disturbing” political ad.
A spokesman for Griffin did not say whether he plans to meet with the mayor.
MAMDANI TAX BREAK PROPOSAL RAISES FEAR AS BUSINESS LEADERS WARN OF 'NYC BIRD' ECONOMY
Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin called a viral video of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani singing in her Manhattan basement while announcing the new tax a “personal attack” and a “deep lack of judgment.” (Denis Balibouse/Reuters/Reuters)
“Ken cares deeply about New York City and welcomes thoughtful, critical discussions about policies that will grow the city's economy and create more opportunities for all New Yorkers,” the spokesperson said in a statement sent to FOX Business. “Theatrics of recklessness are pointless and undermine the future of one of the world's most important cities.”
In an April video advocating higher taxes on New York's wealthy and a pied-à-terre tax on second homes, Mamdani pointed to Griffin's house as an example of what he called a “fundamentally unfair system.”
“This is the annual fee for luxury properties worth more than $5 million whose owners do not live full-time in the city—like this penthouse, which hedge fund executive Ken Griffin bought for $238 million,” Mamdani said in the video.
Speaking at the Milken conference in Los Angeles earlier this month, Griffin said Mamdani's “horrifying” video had confirmed his decision to “double down” on the business in Miami.
MAMDANI THANKS SAME BILLION SHOWS NYPD MONEY TAX VIDEO
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his team contacted Citadel CEO Ken Griffin following criticism of the tax proposal video. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“Mamdani made it clear – New York does not accept success,” said Griffin during the meeting.
Citadel is currently building a new headquarters in Miami, and Griffin reiterated plans to expand the company's presence in Florida, citing the state's pro-business policies.
The mayor's office previously told Fox News Digital that Mamdani “wants all New Yorkers to succeed,” including Griffin, whom he described as a top employer in the city.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has criticized billionaires, including Ken Griffin, whom he recently thanked for supporting the police. (Getty Images/Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
“That does not contradict, however, that our tax system is broken,” the statement continued. “It rewards extreme wealth while working people are pushed to the brink.”
“The current situation is unsustainable and unjust,” he added. “If we want this city to be a place that working people can afford, we need meaningful tax reform that gets the wealthiest New Yorkers to pay their fair share.”
FOX Business' Nikolas Lanum and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
