Mamdani Draws Backlash After Naming Lina Khan As Transition Co-Chair — 'Embodiment Of Inflation,' Says Ronna McDaniel

Ronna McDaniel, the former four-term chair of the Republican National Committee and current leader of the Competitiveness Coalition, has publicly urged New York City mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani to remove Lina Khan as co-chair of his transition team. McDaniel argues that Khan's record at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) undermines Mamdani's pledge to make the city more affordable.

McDaniel's Letter And Concerns

In a letter to Mamdani and in interviews with Fox News Digital, McDaniel criticized Khan as a symbol of what she called "Bidenomics," saying Khan's enforcement approach raised costs by discouraging entrepreneurship and large-scale investment. McDaniel, whose new role at the Competitiveness Coalition advances free‑market policies, warned business leaders in New York expect a return to the aggressive regulatory tactics Khan pursued at the FTC.

“He's saying one thing and doing another by putting her as the co-chair of his transition team,” McDaniel told Fox News Digital. “Lina Khan, for us, represents the embodiment of inflation in this country, and Bidenomics. I think she's the best example of somebody who raised prices across this country by fighting entrepreneurship, and innovation, and big business, and capitalism.”

Specific Allegations

McDaniel's letter cites several actions she attributes to Khan's FTC tenure: opposition to Amazon's proposed acquisition of iRobot (maker of the Roomba), which McDaniel links to iRobot's later financial struggles and job cuts; the redirection of U.S. taxpayer resources to encourage European regulators to increase oversight of American firms; and reported communications with Temu, a Chinese‑owned online marketplace, that McDaniel claims were intended to gather damaging information about U.S. retailers. These claims are presented in McDaniel's letter and interviews as reasons to be concerned about regulatory overreach and geopolitical risk.

Broader Economic Argument

McDaniel argued that Khan's regulatory philosophy, combined with policies Mamdani advocated during his campaign — including expanded rent control, city‑run grocery programs, free bus service, and higher corporate taxes — risks making New York City less attractive to businesses. She warned that firms may relocate to states with lower taxes and lighter regulation, reducing jobs and investment in the city.

“All it means is an inefficient, loaded government that will cost more taxpayer money and will cost you more and leave less jobs in the long run,” McDaniel said, warning particularly about the appeal of populist policies to younger voters.

Responses And Next Steps

Fox News Digital contacted Lina Khan and Zohran Mamdani's office for comment but did not receive a response before publication. The mayor‑elect's transition team has not publicly replied to McDaniel's letter as of this report.

Note: This article summarizes allegations and statements made by Ronna McDaniel and others. Some claims—such as the direct effect of the Amazon‑iRobot opposition on iRobot's bankruptcy and the nature of communications with Temu—are reported here as alleged by McDaniel and related sources.