Zohran Mamdani rebukes Trumpism with pro-immigrant speech for US’s 250th birthday
New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, exalted the city’s legacy of immigrants on Friday in a historically laden, ideological counterpoint to a US semiquincentennial address that was expected later in the day from Donald Trump – who has sought to deport immigrants en masse throughout his second presidency.
Speaking from behind a desk at New York’s city hall that belonged to the US’s first president, George Washington, and which itself is a century older than the Resolute desk in the White House, Mamdani was surrounded by naturalized citizens like himself as he listed the waves of immigrants who shaped the city.
“Hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants arrived with stomachs aching from a famine manufactured by imperial cruelty,” Mamdani said. “Chinese sailors settled in what is today Chinatown. Millions more traveled under the Statue of Liberty and through Ellis Island. Jewish people escaping pogroms, Italians fleeing poverty. Syrians seeking economic opportunity.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/03/zohran-mamdani-america-250-new-yorkOpen linkView original on lemmy.world
59 replies
“My fellow Americans” Mamdani knows the context of this phrase. Not my fellow New Yorkers.
I see comments from people all over the world who say Mamdani is their mayor, too ❤️🔥 Certainly hope more Americans outside of NYC can feel the same.
He's turning into an amazing Mayor... Here's hoping he can carry it off. The part the conservatives are most afraid of is that his plans will work...because they will (are already to an extent) work and serve as a template for other cities and states if they do.
They talk about "mini mamdanis" like it's a bad thing lol
I want a maxi-mamdani.. Like 3 or 4 of them in one candidate. ;-)
MASTODON
I will vote as far left int he primaries as I can..
But in the general, I will vote as far left as I can. Don't care who it is.
He will also make a amazing governor
I think so too...but that's a much harder fight... NY state isn't as left leaning as NYC....
True but the entire state's politics are based off of the millions of voters in the city.
I don't think it's that disparate...they've had republican governors in the recent past...the state is closer to 50\50
It’s still possible, he can still become governor
He can...but he'd have to get western new York onboard...and western new York is much more conservative...
Yeah, but it’s not impossible
Definitely setting himself up for a future presidential (or at least Congressional) run.
And given his track record so far, I'd be happy to see that. Too bad the DNC will stop at nothing to prevent it from happening.
Well, and the constitution. Mamdani can't be president and he's well aware of that and fine with it I think
Is he not a natural born citizen? Ah, too bad. I wasn't aware of that.
Well Trump can't be president either. Yet here we are.
I don’t agree with that interpretation, and many scholars would argue it needs to be deliberated by scotus (but not this one) to settle things once and for all.
The 14th amendment is quite clear, naturalized citizens are US citizens. And article 2 says US citizens can be president.
Well, unfortunately, the text of the 14th Amendment and the text of Article 2 are a bit different. Here's Article 2's pertinent part:
You have to be a 'natural born' citizen, not naturalized. And 'natural born' is pretty much universally taken to mean being a US citizen when born.
Yes, well, I wouldn't expect an ML user to be able to read, so that tracks
Ooohh, sick burn. For an ignoramus.
Try reading it for yourself
There's been some debate on what constitutes natural-born, mostly related to parental citizenship and territories in particular; but the language (and consensus over the last few two centures) is quite clear...
And being a citizen is not enough.
The SC has been diverging from precedent and ignoring the prevailing interpretation of the constitution for a while. It's just a political branch now, thanks to the republicans. Once the democrats take back control, they can do the same.
Ok but why is that the consensus interpretation? Do you think there might be some racial bias there which should be reexamined by the courts? I do.
I’m glad you agree with my interpretation of the 14th, because that is actually the part that is considered more up for debate.
I still don’t think you’ve read the relevant portion of article 2, so let me provide it for you here:
…
Can you explain to me why this “isn’t enough”?
Sadly, he can't be president under the current constitution. But he would be far superior to any current and upcoming candidates.
He held it in front of recently naturalized immigrants. One line I'll paraphrase I found interesting when he referred to them: they didn't see themselves not just as New Yorkers, but American too, just like he did some 10 years ago.
This tells immigrants in New York that they may not be American (yet), but they are New Yorkers. Very beautiful notion.
I’m done he knows when he says that, he means it
However, refreshing to vote for a politician, who doesn’t have to lie
possibly my favorite gif in the last 5 years, maybe ever
My face when they say taxing billionaires will make them leave the state.
Mfw they say the DSA is taking over the Democratic party.
"Oh no! The people who aren't paying taxes are going to leave? Whatever will we do!?!"
Even if they aren't paying a fair or even reasonable percentage, the tiny fraction they do pay in taxes is still a massive majority of total taxes paid.
It's the corporations gaming the system at the top to report losses on record profits and not paying taxes that is even worse. Tax codes as a whole desperately need to be overhauled.
I keep seeing this, what’s it from? Is it a good show?
I don't know if it's specifically from the Ms Rachel show, but the clip is from when she and Zohran met up and sang to kids in a New York elementary school around his inauguration.
Pro immigrant speech for 4th of july is way more appropriate than anything trump says ever
I watched the whole speech. It's about 15 minutes long but really good. About the best I could have hoped for from a political America 250 speech.
It's the best kind of patriotic speech, talking about the things that make America great (diversity and community and opportunity) and acknowledging faults past and present. And throwing shade at Trump and white nationalists.
He gives me so much hope. I know better, but it still happens.
Hope changes the world...even if it's a little bit at a time.
He's going to run for president, and the DNC is going to sabotage the fuck out of his campaign ... even in the general election, if it comes to that. They'd rather see a Republican win than a Democratic Socialist.
He can't run for president unfortunately because he was born outside of the US.
Ah, damn. Didn't know that.
Didn't stop Rafael Theodore Cruz
Yeah it did lol
no that was Cruz being a dickass.
I expect him to have a way bigger audience than Trump.
A moderately well baked potato would have a way bigger audience than Trump.
Whow! hold up, are you saying you would not show up for a baked potato? At least the baked potato shares your views on butter!
Props for telling the truth about the Irish Famine.
Shit, props for mentioning it at all
I think it’s a good way to attempt to provoke empathy in Irish descendants by drawing parallels between shared immigrant experiences.
He's new in politics and he's already acting like a president. Could we see a new FDR in our lifetime? Both are New Yorkers after all.
He's not eligible because he isn't a natural born citizen. That said I'd totally vote for him
And yet America is about to crown a 3rd term President. Interesting indeed.
Go Zohran! 🇺🇸🗽
This is the one issue progressives lose on by the way.