Rudy Giuliani expressed deep anguish over the election of Democrat socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s new mayor, telling Newsmax that his sense of loss “is immense.” Speaking on American Agenda Wednesday, the onetime mayor lamented, “It’s almost impossible for me to express it. My disappointment is immense. I feel like all the work that I did has been ruined and will be ruined, and [Mike] Bloomberg’s as well.”
Giuliani criticized Mamdani’s tone from the moment he took the stage on election night, saying the new mayor had begun his tenure “terribly” by going after President Donald Trump. During his victory speech, Mamdani had looked directly into the camera and declared, “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
Calling the remarks reckless and immature, Giuliani fumed, “The stupidest, dumbest, most childish thing you can do as a mayor is to attack the president of the United States.” He contrasted Mamdani’s approach with his own conduct when he took office in 1994, even though he had strongly supported President George H.W. Bush over Bill Clinton. “I didn’t vote for Bill Clinton,” Giuliani said. “I campaigned very, very, very hard for President [George H.W.] Bush. Not only was he my president, but he was a good friend.”
Despite their political differences, Giuliani said he chose cooperation over conflict. “I did everything to work with President Clinton,” he said, adding proudly, “I have a letter from President Clinton that I was the best mayor in America because I worked with him better than Democrat mayors did for the good of my city.” His relationship with the White House, he explained, was built on mutual professionalism, even when disputes arose. “I also sued him once because he was taking money from us he shouldn’t, and he understood it,” Giuliani noted. “But I’ve never heard of a mayor attacking a president.”
The former mayor warned that Mamdani’s hostility toward Washington could have serious repercussions for New York, particularly in how federal funds are distributed. “If the president of the United States just asked his administration to enforce the law with regard to federal grants, you could probably cut off half to New York just on corruption alone,” Giuliani cautioned.
He went on to denounce what he sees as systemic corruption plaguing city finances. “The budget of New York City, with 8 million people, is equal to the budget of the state of Florida, with 22 million people,” he said incredulously. “Now, how can that be? Because New York has an awful, awful lot — I mean billions — in kickback money.” Giuliani added that his experience as a federal prosecutor had exposed him to the depth of the city’s political rot. “I know, because I put a lot of them in jail when things were cheaper and we were talking millions then, but it’s been corrupt for 160 years with a few interruptions,” he said.
Reflecting on the city’s political history, Giuliani noted how rare it was for a Republican to hold the mayoralty at all. “I was only the fourth Republican mayor to get elected in the 20th century, and I was only one of two that remained a Republican: [Fiorello] La Guardia, you heard of him, and me,” he said.
Giuliani also took aim at what he described as Mamdani’s radical leanings, claiming, “We concentrate on his being a communist. He’s also a very strong supporter of Islamic extremism.” He lamented that many of the city’s younger voters lack perspective on what New York has endured, particularly the trauma of 9/11.
“They don’t know the full story,” Giuliani said, suggesting that history—and the sacrifices made to rebuild the city—have been forgotten.
{Matzav.com}
