WATCH: CNN Trashes Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Speech

CNN analyst Van Jones sounded off after New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s fiery victory speech, suggesting the far-left Democrat may have alienated the same voters who helped him win.At just 34, Mamdani became the first Muslim, first South Asian, and first democratic socialist elected mayor of New York City. His campaign centered on grassroots organizing, affordable housing, and public transit — all themes that drew strong support from young and working-class New Yorkers.

“I think he missed an opportunity,” Jones said during CNN’s post-election coverage. “The Mamdani that we saw on the campaign trail — who was a lot more calm, who was a lot warmer, who was a lot more embracing — was not present in that speech.”

Jones, typically seen as sympathetic to progressive causes, described Mamdani’s tone as “sharp” and even “almost yelling.” “That’s not the Mamdani that we’ve seen on TikTok and in great interviews,” he said. “It felt like a character switch… the warm, open, embracing guy that’s close to working people was not on stage tonight.”

But the tone of his victory remarks surprised even allies. “There was some other voice on stage,” Jones said. “He’s very young, and he just pulled off something very, very difficult. I wouldn’t write him off, but I think he missed an opportunity to open himself up tonight — and that will probably cost him going forward.”

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Mamdani’s speech itself drew immediate attention. “Since I know you’re watching… turn the volume up,” he said to President Trump — a line that went viral across social media. He declared his win a victory for “working people, immigrants, and dreamers,” while promising rent freezes, free bus service, and universal childcare.

Jones’ reaction mirrored that unease. “There are a lot of people trying to figure out, ‘Can I get on this train with him or not?’” he said. “Is he going to include me, or is he going to be more of a class warrior, even in office?”

Mamdani’s win capped a stunning rise that began with his June primary upset over former Governor Andrew Cuomo, followed by a general-election victory over both Cuomo — who continued as an independent — and Republican Curtis Sliwa. With just over 50 percent of the vote, Mamdani’s campaign rewrote the city’s political map, energizing younger voters across Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.

Yet as Van Jones noted, the challenges of leading a city of nine million will demand a broader coalition than the one that carried him to office. His populist message about “taking back New York from the powerful” resonated deeply on the campaign trail, but governing will require partnerships with unions, law enforcement, and business leaders who may not share his worldview.

“He’s got the passion,” Jones said. “But you also need presence — that ability to pull people in rather than push them away. That’s the Mamdani people fell in love with on the campaign trail. That’s the one he needs to bring back.”

The coming months will show whether Mamdani can translate his activist energy into leadership that unites a diverse and skeptical city — or whether, as Jones hinted, his first impression as mayor will be remembered more for rage than reach.