Fact Check: Did Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spend $40K on Knicks game?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Following the victory of the New York Knicks in Game Five of the NBA championship, a claim began circulating on social media platforms that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) spent $40,000 on the game, sparking scrutiny. Let us analyze the claim and fact-check its authenticity.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spent $40,000 on a New York Knicks game
According to the viral claim, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez spent $40,000 on Knicks tickets, souvenirs, and autographs.
A viral post with the claim said, "The real question is, how did two 'socialists' who claim they can barely afford to survive get that kind of cash for one night out?"
Many in the comments are accusing the two Democrats of hypocrisy, questioning whether they genuinely practice the values they advocate and how they are able to spend a large amount on a single evening's activities, with some insinuating they're using taxpayers' money.
The claim that surfaced on Facebook has spread on X, garnering tens of thousands of views as of this writing.
Fact Check: No credible data to substantiate claim
The claim, however, is false, as there is no credible data to support the claim. A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible news reports, official statements, or data that proves the claim of their spending, which, if true, would not go unreported.
Moreover, the claim originated from a popular Facebook parody account called ‘America’s Last Line of Defense,’ which describes itself in the bio as “Nothing on this page is real.”
Zohran Mamdani announces New York Knicks ticker-tape parade
On Saturday, June 13, after the New York Knicks captured their first NBA championship in 53 years by defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Mamdani announced that the city would host a ticker-tape parade and official celebration.
According to city officials, the parade will take place on Thursday, June 18, followed by a City Hall ceremony where members of the team will receive Keys to the City.
“For more than 50 years, New Yorkers have waited for this moment. Through near misses, heartbreak and a hope that every year could be our year, this city never stopped believing in the Knicks,” Mamdani said in a statement. “And this team fulfilled that hope with grit, resilience and heart, just like the five boroughs itself.”
“New Yorkers have cheered for our team from packed living rooms in the Bronx to watch parties in Brooklyn, from bars in Queens to Staten Island to Manhattan, and Madison Square Garden itself. Now it’s time for our city to celebrate together,” he added.
