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New York City's Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced online criticism at a press conference when a local attorney said evictions were a form of “violence” as the mayor came after her.
“Our city is turning a corner in the management of tenants. When we plan, we get results. Mamdani managers give us courage so we no longer tolerate the violence of evictions as usual,” said Antonia Marrero, a member of the Housing Organis for People Empowerment (HOPE) Tenant Union, during a press conference on Thursday.
Mamdani, who has been widely criticized over the past year for his housing policies, was quickly criticized by commentators and general political commentators on social media for these comments.
“This looks like a scene from a Batman movie,” wrote Heritage Foundation senior Mike Gonzalez on X.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is under fire online after an attendee at her event called evictions “violence.” (Fox Stories)
“Theatre of the absurd,” Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on X.
“Look at Mamdani's face in the background,” conservative influencer account End Wokeness wrote on X, referring to Mamdani's grip as the woman spoke.
“It's impossible to explain how much damage Fauci and the CDC lying to everyone about the effectiveness of masks has caused,” Outkick writer Ian Miller wrote in X. “Even Mamdani had to dial up the fake smile to 11 to hide how ridiculous this all is.”
“Is stealing from a landlord violence?” investor Rick Rule posted on X.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to inmates at Rikers Island as they watch a World Cup semifinal soccer match Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“A mole is taking over,” the Breckinridge County Republican Party in Kansas wrote on X.
“Mamdani laughing in the background makes it all look like a scary scene from a horror movie,” conservative broadcaster Mike Gallagher wrote in X.
“How true this is,” Conservative commentator Graham Allen told X.
“I've always wondered how this pigeon lady from Home Alone 2 got out of this pandemic,” GOP strategist Matt Whitlock told X.
“Freak Show,” Neighbors Together Oakland founder Seneca Scott posted on X.
“Mamdani just hit the ground running now,” political analyst Link Lauren told X. “He wants to be published and noticed. Anger makes him tense. Even he laughs behind his back.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani's office and HOPE's parent organization for comment.
Thursday's event featured Mamdani releasing the “Rental Ripoff Report,” making the case that residents of the nation's largest city are paying too much rent while not getting enough and offering 23 suggestions to fix the issue.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has asked Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner to drop out of the race following a scandalous report that Platner allegedly raped his ex-girlfriend. (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“At Rental Ripoff Hearings in all five boroughs, we heard about thousands of New Yorkers living with untreated mold, unaddressed pests and unexplained costs. The hearing was only the first step,” Mamdani said in a press release. “This report turns those issues into concrete action. From demanding disclosure of AI-altered listings to bringing our code enforcement programs into the 21st century and finally recognizing tenant unions, we're making it clear that every New Yorker deserves a safe home — and every landlord who refuses to provide housing will be held accountable.”
Earlier this week, Mamdani faced renewed criticism over housing affordability as rents in Manhattan and Brooklyn hit record highs, with conservative analysts arguing that demand from immigrants is adding pressure to an already tight rental market that the Mayor has campaigned to ease.
Mamdani campaigned to address New York City's housing crisis by raising rents for stable renters, building 200,000 affordable homes and expanding renter protections. Since taking office, he has successfully frozen rent-stabilized rents, loosened a housing program aimed at building and maintaining 400,000 affordable homes and moved to expand rental vouchers.
Critics argue that the rent freeze will drive up prices for everyone and disincentivize property owners from doing more than the bare minimum to maintain units that cannot be paid market rate to rent.
Fox News Digital's Robert Schmad contributed to this report.
