New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch hold a press conference at the scene where a car slammed into the entrance of the headquarters of a Jewish religious order, the Chabad Lubavitch World Headquarters, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, U.S., January 28, 2026. REUTERS/Madison Swart
Old social media posts from Zohran Mamdani calling to “defund the NYPD” have resurfaced online following the recent terror attack outside Gracie Mansion.
The posts, dating back to 2020 during nationwide protests after the killing of George Floyd, show Mamdani supporting demonstrations calling for major cuts to the budget of the New York City Police Department.
In one widely shared post, Mamdani wrote:
“We marched by the thousands to demand they #DefundTheNYPD.”
The resurfaced comments began circulating on social media after two suspects were arrested and charged with terrorism for allegedly throwing improvised explosive devices during a protest outside Gracie Mansion, the official residence of the New York City mayor.
Authorities say the suspects, identified as Emir Balat, 18, and Ibraham Kayumi, 19, were allegedly self-radicalized and inspired by ISIS ideology when they carried out the attempted attack during demonstrations near the residence.
The incident has sparked renewed political debate over public safety in New York City, with critics pointing to Mamdani’s past statements on policing in the aftermath of the attack.
Supporters of the mayor argue the posts were made during a period of nationwide protests and reflected broader calls at the time for police reform and shifting resources to community services.
The resurfaced statements have added to the growing political fallout surrounding the Gracie Mansion attack, as officials across New York continue to debate security, protest activity, and policing policy following the incident.
The investigation into the attack remains ongoing.
