Zohran Mamdani, the radical socialist candidate vying to run America’s greatest city, found himself in an embarrassing spotlight Thursday night on CNN. Host Erin Burnett exposed Mamdani’s bizarre past as an aspiring rapper performing under the name “Mr. Cardamom.” But this cringe-worthy moment wasn’t simply about a politician’s failed hip-hop dreams—it was a stark reminder of Mamdani’s deeply troubling past of sympathizing with extremist organizations.
When Burnett aired a clip from 2017 of Mamdani rapping, the candidate visibly flinched. “I didn’t think it was going to be on CNN,” Mamdani sheepishly admitted. Perhaps he didn’t anticipate national scrutiny, but the voters of New York City deserve to know precisely who this candidate is. CNN’s airing of the footage is a small step toward accountability, but the truth about Zohran Mamdani goes far beyond an embarrassing performance.
Canary Mission, a watchdog group committed to exposing antisemitism, first unearthed the disturbing video. In Mamdani’s track titled “Salaam,” he openly praised the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, an organization convicted in 2008 of funneling over $12 million directly to Hamas, a designated terrorist group responsible for countless attacks against innocent civilians. Mamdani’s lyrics were explicit: “My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look ’em up.” Yes, Mr. Mamdani, we did look them up, and New Yorkers are rightly horrified.
?????????: In an unearthed rap song, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani praised five convicted terror funders.
– The five funneled $12M to Hamas
– Mamdani sent his "love" to them
– Track released in 2017, also called to tear down the U.S. border wall pic.twitter.com/6nxRsbn7tv— Canary Mission (@canarymission) June 20, 2025
The implications of Mamdani’s past actions go beyond mere embarrassment. His praise for convicted terror funders reveals a profound lack of judgment and loyalty to American values. It wasn’t merely youthful indiscretion; it was a conscious choice to align himself with individuals who actively supported terrorism. Mamdani has also called for tearing down our border wall—a clear indication that his vision for New York City aligns more closely with extremist ideologies than with law-abiding American citizens.
Canary Mission has carefully documented Mamdani’s dangerous stances, exposing him as a candidate who has consistently expressed anti-American and antisemitic views. Such positions put New York City’s safety, security, and values at risk. As their report rightly points out, Mamdani’s radical agenda includes defunding our police departments and policies that would threaten public safety, leaving neighborhoods vulnerable to crime and chaos. New Yorkers have already suffered enough from soft-on-crime policies pushed by leftist politicians; Mamdani would only take the city further down this destructive path.
It’s astonishing that someone with Mamdani’s record of praising terror-linked organizations would even be considered a viable candidate for mayor in New York City. Yet, the radical left continues to push such candidates forward, hoping voters either won’t notice or won’t care. But conservatives, independents, and even moderate Democrats must stand up and say, “Enough.” New York City needs leadership that prioritizes law and order, economic revitalization, and the safety and security of all its residents—not dangerous radicals aligning themselves with extremist causes.
Mamdani’s appearance on CNN was a public embarrassment, but voters shouldn’t dismiss this as mere entertainment. His troubling background and associations speak volumes about his character and intentions. America, especially New York City, deserves better than a candidate who openly praises convicted terror funders and advocates for policies that undermine our safety and security.
New Yorkers have a choice to make. Will they allow radical candidates like Mamdani to continue gaining ground, or will they reject extremism and restore common sense to their city? Let Mamdani’s humiliating CNN moment serve as a wake-up call: it’s time to demand accountability, integrity, and patriotism from those who wish to lead America’s greatest cities.