CNN anchor Van Jones called out New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for his ‘character switch’ during an intense victory speech on Tuesday, suggesting that his tone was sharper than usual and that he missed an opportunity to connect with more New Yorkers after a contentious election. The criticism came during Jones’ appearance on CNN’s election night panel, where he noted that Mamdani’s speech seemed to diverge from the warm, open demeanor he had displayed during the campaign.
“I think he missed a chance tonight to open up and bring more people into the tent,” Jones said. “His tone was sharp — almost like he was yelling — and that’s not the Mamdani we’ve seen on TikTok or in the great interviews. There was a little bit of a character switch here, where the warm, open, embracing guy close to working people was not on stage tonight, and there was some other voice on stage,” he added.
Despite the criticism, Jones acknowledged the significance of Mamdani’s win, which saw him defeat both the Democratic establishment and Donald Trump. “He defeated Democratic Party royalty — the Cuomos — and the oligarchs and rich folks who tried to stop him. He also beat Trump,” Jones said. “So the triumphalism you see is earned.” However, he warned that the fiery speech could come back to haunt Mamdani in the long run, especially as he navigates his first major political challenge as the city’s next mayor.
Mamdani, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, is set to become the first Muslim mayor in New York City’s history and the first member of the far-left flank of the Democratic Party to hold such a position. His victory speech, which was broadcast to a nationwide audience, was marked by its direct critique of both the Democratic establishment and President Trump, with Mamdani promising that New York would remain a city ‘powered by immigrants,’ a message that resonated with many voters.
Jones, while critical of the tone of Mamdani’s speech, praised the mayor-elect for his ability to overcome political obstacles and secure a decisive victory. However, he cautioned that the speech could create a divide, potentially isolating Mamdand from broader support. “He’s very young and pulled off something very, very difficult,” Jones said, adding that he wouldn’t write Mamdani off, though he believed the mayor-elect’s inability to connect on a personal level could hinder his long-term political success.