Mamdani’s calm public image challenged as insiders accuse him of struggling with criticism

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani made a name for himself online with his laid-back, unfazed style. But behind the scenes, people familiar with his political dealings claimed that the picture was different.

More than a dozen elected officials, consultants, and insiders told the New York Post that Mamdani can be “thin-skinned” and “quick to take offense.” They claimed he goes after people who criticize him, holds grudges against other politicians, and often ignores messages unless an issue gains attention in the press. According to the sources, that is when he responds immediately.

Mamdani’s Israel comments sparked criticism from leaders

“I see more and more he cannot handle criticism, but mainly from elected officials who he thinks he can push around,” one political consultant told the NY Post.

“The mayor personally reaches out when electeds criticizes him publicly. If they speak, then he cares. He cares because he doesn’t want bad press. It shows a sensitivity.”

The issue reportedly intensified after several Jewish community leaders publicly urged Mamdani to “stop fanning the flames of hatred” toward Israel following an alleged antisemitic incident on the Upper West Side.

According to sources, Mamdani did not take the criticism quietly and called at least one elected official who attended the news conference, expressing frustration over calls for him to tone down his comments.

Criticism grew after Mamdani posted a video that went viral with about 100 million views, in which he accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a “war criminal.” He shared the post days before the attack.

Social media played a major role in Mamdani’s rise

Mamdani’s strong presence on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where he now has 3.5 million and 11.9 million followers respectively, helped fuel his rise from a little-known state lawmaker in 2025 to New York City’s mayor and a prominent figure in the Democratic Socialists of America movement.

Another Democratic operative said Mamdani is “tough on staff,” often holding late-night meetings in Gracie Mansion with his DSA allies.

“He’s the first DSA (mayor) so they have to show he can manage the city, and any time someone puts a dent in that it hurts their cause,” a government insider said.

The Post shared additional accounts from people familiar with the situation. For example, when Queens Borough President Donovan Richards called the Democratic Socialists of America “white supremacy” on social media, insiders said Mamdani had a staffer contact Richards’ office and ask him to delete the post. Richards did not remove it.

Sources also described a heated back-and-forth with City Councilwoman Virginia Maloney, who publicly challenged one of Mamdani’s budget claims.

According to the report, Mamdani frequently reached out to officials who criticized the proposed property tax hike. One City Council member summed it up for the Post: “He’s so thin-skinned and reads everything.”

“His security blanket is his phone and the dopamine from how many likes he gets on a post,” a Democratic operative scoffed.

“Seems to keep him going.”

“They only respond when it’s a crisis for them and reaches crisis levels in the press, but before that they don’t return calls, texts or emails,” a Democratic operative said of Mamdani and his team.

“He has been known to hold grudges against whoever challenges him or his positions for even some of the smallest of slights, and those people get sent to the back of the line unless he needs something.”

According to sources who spoke with the Post anonymously because they did not want trouble with Mamdani’s office, the report offered a look at how the mayor handles political pressure behind the scenes, away from the media spotlight that helped push him into national attention.