The New York Post, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s media group, took a swipe at newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani with a politically charged front page that has since gone viral. The tabloid headline says 'On your Marx, get set, Zo!'- played on Karl Marx’s name to mock Mamdani’s democratic socialist leanings following his decisive victory in the city’s mayoral race.
The paper, known for its conservative editorial stance, also dubbed New York 'The Red Apple,' twisting the city’s famous nickname 'The Big Apple.' The red hue, coupled with the hammer-and-sickle motif behind Mamdani’s image, symbolically linked his win to socialist and Marxist ideologies.
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Mamdani, 34, made history on Tuesday night by defeating former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in a race that saw the highest voter turnout in decades, according to early reports from Reuters. The Ugandan-born politician, who represents Astoria in the New York State Assembly, will become the city’s first Muslim, first South Asian, and first socialist mayor and also one of the youngest to hold the post.
Murdoch media takes aim at Mamdani’s identity and politics
The Post, owned by Rupert Murdoch since 1976, has long been known for its conservative stance and sensationalist style. Its coverage of Mamdani’s campaign has been consistently critical. It has spotlighted his identification as a democratic socialist and frequently labelled his platform “radical.” Earlier reports from the paper questioned the legitimacy of some campaign donations and even linked Mamdani to controversial global movements, running provocative headlines such as “Weapons of Hamas Destruction.”
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In contrast, Mamdani’s campaign celebrated his victory as a moment of progressive change. In a viral social media post, he shared a video of subway doors opening with the caption that says, “Next stop: City Hall.”
While Murdoch’s New York Post mocked his win, analysts noted that Mamdani’s victory reflects a shifting political mood in America’s largest city, one where diversity, youth, and grassroots activism are increasingly taking centre stage.
