Fact Check: Did Zohran Mamdani say that he might run for the presidency?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said that he might be running for the presidency. The claim has sparked mixed reactions among online users. While a few expressed skepticism. Let us analyze the origins of the viral rumor and fact-check the claim’s authenticity.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani is running for the presidency
According to a viral claim, Zohran Mamdani says he might run for the presidency following constitutional amendments.
Although the claim doesn't specify when he might run for the White House, it has sparked mixed reactions: many endorse the alleged plan, while a few appear to oppose it.
This suggests that many believe the claim to be authentic, prompting a fact-check.
Fact Check: False, Zohran Mamdani never made such a remark
The claim is false, as Mamdani did not explicitly state that he might run for the presidency.
There are no credible reports by prominent news media outlets that support the claim, which, if true, would have made headlines.
The claim stemmed from his recent interview on Fox News’ This Week, where he laughed off the idea of changing the US Constitution so he can run for president when he’s done with New York City.
When asked whether he would support changing the Constitution so he could seek the presidency, Mamdani said, “No. I think the Constitution looks good the way it is.”
According to the Constitution, only natural-born US citizens aged 35 or older are eligible to become president.
But Mamdani was born in Uganda and moved to the United States as a child and became a naturalized US citizen in 2018, making him constitutionally ineligible for the presidency.
Zohran Mamdani says democratic socialism has a national appeal
During the interview, arguing that his brand of democratic socialism has growing appeal beyond New York, he said, "I think a democratic socialist can get elected anywhere across this country for any position.”
"I think we are seeing a hunger that is not just felt by New Yorkers, but frankly by Americans from coast to coast, for a new kind of politics, one that puts working people at the heart of it,” he said.
When asked about his role in the upcoming midterm elections, he said, “It's not just New York City where working people are asking themselves, why can't I afford my rent, why can't I afford my groceries, why can't I find enough money in my pocket for child care, no matter how hard I work?"
