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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Sidesteps Call for Chuck Schumer to Step Down, Jokes Schumer Resembles His Father

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani declined to say whether Sen. Chuck Schumer should resign, joking that Schumer resembles his father instead of offering a direct response. Interviewer Mehdi Hasan pressed Mamdani on his role as an emerging national Democrat, but Mamdani focused his criticism on the Senate deal that ended the recent government shutdown. Mamdani has also discouraged a primary challenge to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and said his priority is delivering an affordability agenda for New Yorkers.

07:23 PM, 12/02/2025Politics
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani Sidesteps Call for Chuck Schumer to Step Down, Jokes Schumer Resembles His Father

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani repeatedly avoided a direct answer when asked whether Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should resign, instead making a lighthearted remark about Schumer's resemblance to his own father during a recent interview.

On Sunday, Zeteo host Mehdi Hasan pressed Mamdani about Schumer's leadership within the Democratic Party and whether it was time for him to go. Mamdani declined to state explicitly whether he supports Schumer stepping down or being replaced.

"I think it's time for me to focus on this transition and to start delivering for New Yorkers from day one," Mamdani said, pivoting to criticism of the recent government shutdown agreement. "I think I've been clear. I think it was a very bad deal. It does not make any sense to me to have fought for the extension."

"I'm sorry to break this to you, Zohran Mamdani," Hasan responded. "You are now a prominent national Democrat. Your name is up there when people talk about Democratic leaders. So when we're talking about Chuck Schumer's effectiveness, whether he should stay in the role, people expect you to have an opinion."

Mamdani directed most of his criticism at the Senate deal that ended the shutdown rather than at Schumer personally.

When the conversation shifted to whether Mamdani discouraged a primary challenge to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, Mamdani pulled out his phone and showed Hasan a photo of his father, Mahmood Mamdani, quipping that the image bore a resemblance to Schumer.

Hasan: "Is that why you won't call for Chuck Schumer to go? Because he looks like your dad?"
Mamdani: "Right? This is my dad. This is a Zeteo exclusive."

Despite mounting criticism of both Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries from progressive Democrats, Mamdani has not publicly urged either lawmaker to step down. He has also discouraged New York City Council member Chi Ossé from mounting a primary challenge to Jeffries.

"I think that right now is not the time to be engaging in that kind of a primary. I think the focus should be on delivering on this affordability agenda," Mamdani told PIX11 in November. He emphasized that his immediate priorities are overseeing a smooth transition and tackling affordability issues for New Yorkers.

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