"Full of it"
Ackman Unleashes on Mamdani in Scathing Post: "An Inauthentic Actor"
Billionaire investor calls Mamdani “an inauthentic actor” and warns Curtis Sliwa may hand him the election; throws full support behind Andrew Cuomo after heated NYC mayoral debate.
In a blistering and highly personal online post, billionaire investor and political donor Bill Ackman issued a full-throated denunciation of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, calling him a “smug,” “inauthentic” performer whose policies and persona are both deeply untrustworthy.
The post, which has already gone viral across political X and NYC media circles, came in the wake of the city’s first major televised mayoral debate. Ackman, who recently donated $1 million to an anti-Mamdani PAC, did not hold back.
“It is now abundantly clear he is completely full of it,” Ackman wrote. “The whole thing is an act. Just look at the identical practiced smile with which he ends each answer. After watching him recreate his fake smile, your skin will start to crawl.”
Ackman accused Mamdani of calculated dishonesty, stating that the Democratic Socialist candidate routinely walks back past statements now that they’re politically inconvenient.
“He denies or disavows any of his previous public statements that he knows will now cost him votes,” Ackman said. “The only takeaway is that he is an extremely articulate inauthentic actor. You can’t trust one word out of his mouth.”
He also dismissed Mamdani’s policy platform as economically unworkable:
“And that’s before you get to his policies, which make no economic sense,” he added.
Praise for Cuomo, Pressure on Sliwa
Ackman’s post wasn’t solely an attack, it included praise for Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who is attempting a political comeback as a centrist mayoral candidate. Ackman claimed Cuomo dominated the debate and offered “practical” leadership:
“Cuomo had a great debate. He was knowledgeable, practical and full of common sense about what NYC needs and what a mayor should do,” he wrote.
“He has his mojo back… He came across as strong, confident and authentic. He should be our next mayor.”
Ackman also issued a stark warning to Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, whom he described as well-intentioned but politically dangerous in the current race dynamic.
“He comes across as a good man who cares and knows a lot about the City. But… a vote for Sliwa is a vote for Mamdani,” Ackman said.
“He will hand NYC to Mamdani if he stays in. And I am concerned he will do so, as he comes across as having a big ego, and he is out of touch with his place in the polls.”