New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and Democratic nominee, has sparked controversy for reportedly spending tens of thousands of dollars on private security for his campaign, despite his past vocal support for defunding the New York Police Department (NYPD). The revelation has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents and law enforcement, who argue it contradicts Mamdani’s public stance on public safety and policing.According to campaign expenditure reports, Mamdani’s campaign made payments totaling approximately $33,495 to Advanced Security & Investigations between June and July 2025. These payments, ranging from $8,000 to $13,000, were allocated for private security services during his mayoral bid. Additionally, Mamdani has been assigned an NYPD security detail, a decision that has raised eyebrows given his previous calls to defund the police and disband specialized NYPD units like the Strategic Response Group. Critics, including posts found on X, have highlighted the irony of Mamdani’s reliance on both private and public security while advocating policies that would reduce police funding.Mamdani, a 33-year-old Queens assemblyman, has a history of criticizing the NYPD, particularly during the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s murder. In social media posts from that period, he described the NYPD as “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety” and explicitly supported defunding the department. One tweet from June 2020 stated, “No, we want to defund the police.” These statements have resurfaced as Mamdani campaigns for mayor, drawing scrutiny from opponents like former Governor Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who have accused him of inconsistency.In response to the backlash, Mamdani has attempted to distance himself from his earlier rhetoric. At a July 30, 2025, press conference following a mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan that killed four people, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Mamdani stated, “I am not running to defund the police.” He attributed his 2020 comments to widespread frustration over police misconduct and emphasized that his current platform prioritizes public safety while redirecting certain responsibilities, like mental health crisis response, to social workers. Mamdani also defended his use of security, citing threats received during his campaign, and expressed gratitude for his NYPD detail.The controversy intensified due to Mamdani’s absence during the Midtown shooting, as he was in Uganda celebrating his recent wedding at a family-owned compound reportedly guarded by armed security. Critics, including Cuomo, seized on this, accusing Mamdani of being disconnected from New Yorkers’ safety concerns. Some NYPD officers have expressed distrust, with one anonymous source telling the New York Post, “This guy thinks the entire NYPD is racist… He’s completely clueless to what the police department is today.”Political analysts suggest Mamdani’s shift in rhetoric is a strategic move to appeal to a broader electorate, as “defund the police” remains unpopular among many New Yorkers. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, told The Post that backing away from the defund stance was “a necessary move” for Mamdani to avoid having it define his candidacy. However, critics like Democratic operative Ross Wallenstein argue that Mamdani’s recent statements, including a December 2024 tweet calling for disbanding the Strategic Response Group, indicate his views have not significantly changed.The debate over Mamdani’s security spending highlights broader tensions in New York City’s mayoral race, where public safety remains a top issue. As Mamdani competes against Cuomo, Adams, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, his handling of this controversy could shape voter perceptions ahead of the November 2025 election.
Sources:
- Breitbart: Zohran Mamdani Hires Private Security After Calling to Defund Police
- The Post Millennial: Zohran Mamdani Applauds Personal NYPD Detail
- Yahoo News: Zohran Mamdani Backs Off Defund Police Stance
- Daily Caller: Socialist Hires Private Security
- Fox News via 1010wcsi.com: Mamdani Spending Big on Private Security
