Published on October 15, 2025 • Last updated just now • 2-minute read
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New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani addresses the media during a press conference at St. James Park in the Bronx on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. Photo by Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images
NEW YORK — In a Fox News interview on Wednesday, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani issued a public apology for his previous criticisms of the New York Police Department, stating that he aims to “collaborate with these officers” if elected.
Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, also took the opportunity to send a direct message to President Donald Trump, looking into the camera to express his willingness to “discuss ways to reduce the cost of living,” a key focus of his campaign.
By utilizing a Fox News appearance to address both Trump and the city’s police department—two significant challenges for his potential mayoralty—Mamdani is working to expand his support and foster relationships ahead of next month’s election.
The state Assemblymember and self-identified democratic socialist has faced scrutiny on the campaign trail for comments he made in 2020, when he called for defunding the police amid the national outcry following George Floyd’s death in Minnesota. At that time, he characterized the NYPD as “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety.”
Since then, Mamdani has distanced himself from those views, asserting that they do not reflect his current agenda. He now promises to maintain the police department’s staffing levels while proposing the establishment of a “Department of Community Safety” to deploy mental health care teams for specific calls.
When asked about his past remarks, the 33-year-old Mamdani stated that he has sought to mend relations with officers privately, but his comments on Fox marked his most public effort to reconcile with the department.
“Absolutely, I’ll apologize to police officers right here,” Mamdani said.