Mamdani Under Fire from GOP Rival Over Hypocrisy on Police Security

EXCLUSIVE: Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa has sharply criticized his opponent, socialist Zohran Mamdani, regarding what he describes as blatant hypocrisy related to Mamdani’s stance on police security. Sliwa is vying for the mayoral position in New York City.

On Wednesday, Sliwa expressed his concerns to Fox News Digital, highlighting the contradiction between Mamdani’s past calls to defund the police and his reliance on armed NYPD officers for personal security. “It is fascinating that as he returns from Uganda today, he is being picked up by the NYPD armed police officers who provide him security 24 hours a day,” Sliwa stated. He went on to point out what he sees as a common political double standard: “‘Do as I say, but not as I do.’ He is protected by armed NYPD officers while advocating for social workers to respond to crime calls for everyone else.”

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani has faced intense scrutiny over his previously stated views on policing, particularly in light of the protests that erupted following George Floyd’s death. He previously referred to the police as “racist” and infamously remarked that “nature is healing” in response to a police officer visibly upset in his car.

While running for mayor, Mamdani has suggested that mental health professionals should be sent to respond to certain crime calls, all while benefiting from New York Police Department protection himself. Reports indicate that while celebrating his wedding at a family compound in Uganda, Mamdani had armed security in place.

Sliwa remarked on this striking contradiction during his interview, stating, “I could have had a police detail. I said, ‘No, we need them to protect people in the streets.’” He emphasized his commitment to being present in public spaces, contrasting his approach with Mamdani, who accepted armed security officers from the NYPD.

He further criticized Mamdani’s security arrangement, pointing out, “Isn’t it ironic? While arriving from Uganda, he was guarded by armed commandos with AK-47s. The sanctimonious nature of his statements only underscores his hypocrisy. If social workers had responded to a recent violent incident, they would have faced lethal danger. This is absolute insanity.”

Sliwa also admonished Mamdani for his previous pledge to dismantle the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG), the unit responsible for responding to the recent shooting event in midtown that left four dead. This pledge, according to Sliwa, raises serious concerns, particularly as the unit plays a crucial role in managing significant public safety events.

Addressing Mamdani’s political stances, Sliwa said, “That decision reflected the fact that the SRG is often dispatched to pro-Palestinian demonstrations where chants of ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ create tensions. Mamdani’s anti-Israel views significantly influence his campaign, and this has emerged as a dominating issue for Democrats nationwide.”

Sliwa went on to assert, “Mamdani will inevitably allow these demonstrators to dominate the city, possibly with them having a role in his administration. In contrast, I will ensure that all demonstrations comply with legal guidelines and do not infringe upon the rights of other citizens who may disagree with their messages.”

The Mamdani campaign did not immediately respond when Fox News Digital sought comments regarding these critiques.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Mamdani addressed questions related to his past remarks about the police. He attempted to clarify his previous calls for police defunding by suggesting that commentary from five years ago should not define present issues. “Looking at the current crisis of retention in our police force, attributing it to old tweets ignores the reality of the current moment,” Mamdani stated. He honored the NYPD officer who died in the recent shooting, amplifying his sentiment.

Throughout the conference, the 33-year-old socialist maintained that his earlier statements were made out of frustration in the wake of Floyd’s death. He noted multiple times that his past opinions were “clearly out of step” with today’s policing landscape.

Mamdani also justified his use of the NYPD for personal security, saying, “My life has changed dramatically, necessitating precautions I wish I didn’t have to take. I am grateful for the NYPD security detail currently protecting me here in New York City. They help ensure my safety in a way that I never anticipated needing.”

Fox News Digital’s Peter Pinedo contributed to this report.