HBO host Bill Maher sounded the alarm Friday about Democratic Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling him “the most radical” figure to emerge in the city’s political scene.
“We’ve never had someone this radical,” Maher said during a panel on Real Time with Bill Maher, warning that Mamdani holds Marxist positions — including the abolition of private property — and openly quotes Karl Marx. “Some of the things he says …he quotes Marxism. Each according to their need. I mean, that’s straight up Communism,” Maher said. (RELATED: Anti-Cop Socialist Poised To Take Control Of Storied Police Force He Once Sought To Tear Down)
“‘Whether you call it the abolition of private property, you call it ‘housing guarantees,’ it’s preferable to what is going on right now,” Maher said, quoting Mamdani.
“Just the phrase ‘abolition of private property — not something we usually hear in America,” Maher said.
“‘Prisons are obsolete. What purpose do they serve,’” Maher continued, quoting Mamdani.
“I can think of a couple,” the comedian quipped.
“‘NYPD is racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety,’” Maher said, again quoting Mamdani.
“I think most people think cops are protecting their public safety,” Maher added.
Bill Maher reads some of the radical statements made by Mamdani, and James Kirchick goes after him hard.
Rep. Jason Crow did not disagree. pic.twitter.com/jsNOXB9aLV
— Blue Georgia (@BlueATLGeorgia) August 2, 2025
Maher’s comments came in response to Democratic Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, who dismissed conservative backlash to Mamdani as an attempt to invent a “boogeyman.”
“They always try to create a villain,” Crow argued, downplaying concerns.
But Maher pushed back. “No, these are quotes. I’m not creating anything — I’m quoting [Mamdani],” he said.
Fellow panelist and columnist James Kirchick also weighed in, drawing sharp comparisons between Mamdani and theories once aimed at former President Barack Obama.
“Everything that the crazy far-right alleged about Obama — wasn’t born in America, Islamist, socialist, antisemite, hates America — it’s all true about this guy [Mamdani],” Kirchick claimed.
Kirchick, author of Secret City, criticized Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which critics say calls for violence against Jews. “It means kill Jews whenever and wherever you can find them,” he said. “I don’t want to hear anyone deny this.”
Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and state assemblyman, reportedly told business leaders last month that he would not personally use the phrase “globalize the intifada” and would discourage others from doing so. However, he has remained supportive of the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement.
“He’s not contrived,” Maher said. “He’s gonna be the mayor of New York.”
