‘Tax the rich!’: Mamdani steps in to defend Hochul after supporters heckle governor at NYC rally
NEW YORK CITY – New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani defended Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., on Monday after his supporters drowned her out at the podium with chants...
By Fox News · Fox News
NEW YORK CITY – New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani defended Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., on Monday after his supporters drowned her out at the podium with chants of "Tax the rich!" at her during Sunday night's high-profile rally in Forest Hills, Queens. Mamdani's plan to raise taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers to pay for his ambitious campaign promises, like free childcare, fast and free buses and city-run grocery stores, would require state approval, but the governor has ruled out raising taxes on New Yorkers. "Whenever I speak with the governor, it always comes back to affordability, and we have both made clear that that is the defining purpose of our politics, and that's what we're going to deliver," Mamdani told reporters in Manhattan on Monday. But Mamdani's supporters, knowing Hochul has been unwilling to budge on raising taxes, disrupted her remarks on Sunday, shouting, "Tax the rich!" The chants forced Mamdani to walk out on stage early and taking her hand in his to affirm his support for the governor . MAMDANI SPARKS ONLINE FRENZY OVER RESPONSE TO WHETHER HE ENDORSES NY GOV HOCHUL: 'HUMILIATING' "I can hear you," Hochul responded as the stadium erupted with the chant. Yet Hochul told reporters on Monday that she knows there is "passion" to raise taxes on corporations and the top 1% of New Yorkers, but the governor said she attended Mamdani's rally, as leader of New York's Democratic Party, to reaffirm her support for the Democratic mayoral nominee. MAMDANI’S SOCIALIST, CITY-RUN GROCERY PLAN FACES BACKLASH FROM HOCHUL: 'I FAVOR FREE ENTERPRISE' "What I saw in that stadium was refreshing and energizing to know we can harness all that, to be on the same team and to make sure we can do a lot of great things for the people of this state and indeed the country," Hochul said. Mamdani was joined by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Sunday for the "New York is Not for Sale Rally," with mor…