Mamdani blasts capitalism, foreign wars in America 250 address — while sitting at George Washington’s desk
Zo say can you see …
Mayor Zohran Mamdani decried capitalism and the US’ involvement in foreign wars during an address marking America’s 250th anniversary Friday — while sitting at George Washington’s desk.
The 15-minute speech — which Mamdani gave while flanked by newly naturalized US citizens — argued America was exceptional because “nothing is fixed into place,” as fulfilling the values of freedom enshrined in the Declaration of Independence remains a work in progress.
The democratic socialist mayor called out the “powerful” who treat American ideals as a given only for the “select few,” as he elevated the plight and contributions by downtrodden Americans — slaves, Continental Army soldiers, immigrants of all types.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani gave an address marking America’s 250th anniversary. Anna Connors/Pool The New York Times via AP
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech to mark America’s 250th birthday. Getty Images
“We see a city of contradictions within a nation of contradictions,” he intoned. “We see the wealthiest nation in the history of the world — one where children go to sleep hungry while the world’s first trillionaire hungers for more. We see monopolies that dominate every industry and oligarchs who buy elections.”
The oration stressed unity, yet highlighted deep divisions as America’s semiquincentennial approached — and arguably served as a platform for Mamdani to flex his growing political power after a wave of far-left successes in Democratic House primaries in New York City and beyond.
Mamdani’s speech preceded another symbolism-rich address planned by his political polar opposite – and surprising texting buddy – President Trump, at Mount Rushmore.
Perhaps unsurprisingly for someone who more-or-less called Trump a “fascist” to his face, Mamdani also argued that America’s ideals were “strong enough to endure any authoritarian regime.”
The mayor took several veiled swipes at Trump, his hardline immigration crackdown and his wealthy peers.
“We see masked agents terrorizing our streets, eating food cooked by our undocumented neighbors before spiriting them away in unmarked vans,” he said. “We see a nation whose immense wealth has been built by those with calloused, dirt-streaked hands … a nation that has allowed so much of that wealth to be held in the soft hands of a precious few.”
The speech argued against the “love it or leave it” strain of patriotism. Bloomberg via Getty Images
Mamdani, giving the address from George Washington’s desk, was flanked by newly naturalized US citizens. Anna Connors for The New York Times/Pool/Pool The New York Times via AP
Mamdani also used his soapbox to blast the health insurance industry, landlords and meddling in foreign conflicts.
“I see America in a health insurance industry that exploits the sick, but that is not all I see when I look for America,” he said.
“I see America in corporate landlords for whom negligence is a business model,” he continued. “I see it, too, in the father who tucks his children into bed beneath a ceiling stained with leaks, wakes before dawn to go to work, and still believes this country can do better by them.
The New York Stock Exchange is decorated with American flags on Thursday, July 2, 2026. ZUMAPRESS.com
“I see America when we spend our tax dollars on bombs and bailouts, when we sell our elections to the highest bidder,” he said.
Mamdani has been a staunch opponent of the US providing military funding to Israel, painting it as an “affordability” issue.
But Hizzoner’s screeds against the wealthy were arguably undercut by his use of George Washington’s desk — which Mamdani’s press team volunteered was older than the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
Historians generally consider Washington, a slaveowner with vast inherited wealth and landholdings, to have been one of the richest men in the colonies. His peak net worth stood at roughly $700 million adjusted for inflation, making him the third-wealthiest president behind Trump and John F. Kennedy, according to one analysis.
New York City itself featured less in the speech than Mamdani’s press team had initially promised. He invoked the city’s role during the Revolutionary War and beyond, when it became a haven for freed slaves such as James Weeks and waves of immigrants — including himself as a young boy coming from Uganda — greeted by the Statue of Liberty.
“My family did not arrive by boat, although we saw the Statue of Liberty from the window of the plane,” he said. “Even from the air, we could make out the promise of America—the promise of the beautiful, patriotic work of rendering America, year after year, a little more faithful to its founding ideals.”
But the address and happy participation in America 250 events did little to bolster Mamdani’s patriotic bona fides among his many critics.
“Mamdani’s 4th of July Address was a dark and vindictive appraisal of America’s past, present and future,” seethed Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate in New York’s upcoming gubernatorial race.
“America is a beacon of freedom that has created more prosperity for everyday people than any other civilization in the history of the world. No wonder people from all over the world crave to come here. Mamdani is a dangerous subversive who must be stopped.”
Mamdani planned to visit the Empire State Building to festively light it red, white and blue as part of Fourth of July celebrations Saturday.
