SouthernWorldwide.com – New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing significant criticism for his remarks challenging a well-known statement by former President Ronald Reagan concerning the potential pitfalls of large government.
Mamdani, a prominent figure within the democratic socialist movement and New York’s first Muslim mayor, expressed his dissent with the conservative icon’s sentiment during the launch event for one of his highly anticipated city-run grocery stores in the Bronx.
“Standing here this morning, I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. He famously said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,’” Mamdani stated. “It’s a good quote, but I disagree.”
He then offered his alternative perspective, asserting, “I think nine more terrifying words are actually, ‘I worked all day and can’t feed my family.’”
Mamdani further elaborated on his vision, promising, “We are going to use the power of government to lower prices and make it easier for New Yorkers to put food on the table.” He added that “When government understands its purpose as serving the very working people that it has left behind, time and again, it can make a difference in the most pressing struggles facing our city today.”
“It’s not just that government can help, it’s that government must help, and our government will help,” he reiterated, emphasizing the necessity of governmental intervention.
The initiative to establish affordable, government-operated grocery stores across the city was a cornerstone of Mamdani’s electoral campaign. He announced that the inaugural store, a substantial 20,000-square-foot facility in the Bronx, is scheduled to open in 2027.
This marks the second official announcement for one of the five promised stores. Previously, Mamdani had revealed plans for a flagship Manhattan store in East Harlem, which is slated to be a new construction and is projected to open its doors in 2029.
Mamdani highlighted the Bronx location, as well as a planned mixed-use development named “Peninsula,” stating they “will serve as physical proof of our conviction that government can be a force for good, that government can drive change that improves people’s lives.”
Despite the positive reception from the crowd at the announcement, Mamdani’s critique of Reagan’s famous line drew sharp criticism from conservative voices online.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty expressed his dismay on X, stating, “What a FREAKING DISASTER! He REALLY thinks this will work.”
Daugherty accused the mayor of adopting an extreme stance, describing it as going “FULL DERANGED MARXIST” and warning New Yorkers to “be prepared for utter failure.”
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, also took to X, asserting that Mamdani had “flipped Ronald Reagan’s warning upside down.” Kolvet articulated his concern that “his answer is government-run grocery stores that will use taxpayer advantages to undercut private competition.”
Jennifer Harrison, the founder of the Victims Rights Reform Council, drew a parallel to current issues within New York City’s public transportation system, which has been affected by widespread strikes. She posted on X, “Bc everything government run, like the MTA, is working out so well for Nyers.”
The official X account for the Republican Party shared the video clip of Mamdani’s remarks, labeling the mayor as a “communist.”
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