‘Way Less Sexual Tension’: Zohran Mamdani Takes Shots At Media, Roasts Andrew Cuomo, Bill De Blasio At Black Tie Affair
New York City’s Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani took aim at the press and stabbed former New York City leaders at his first Inner Circle dinner Saturday night.
Mamdani had the Ziegfeld Ballroom laughing when he compared his dynamic with Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul to an old governor-mayor feud, the New York Post (NYP) reported. “We’re like Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio, except we don’t want to kill each other and there’s a lot less sexual tension,” he told the black-tie crowd on the 87th night of his term. (RELATED: Mamdani Finds New Ally in Trying to Slap New York’s Rich with Exorbitant Taxes)
The city’s first Muslim mayor also directly targeted the New York Times. “Now is the 87th night of my administration – or as the New York Post would describe it: the Arabian Nights,” he said, according to the outlet. He invited anyone with travel plans to Uganda to rent their parents’ house, accompanied by “a New York Post reporter permanently stationed outside.” Mamdani then turned to the Daily News, crediting the Instagram creators of 33,000 followers as the city’s true press corps. “If you lose a few hundred subscribers, you’ll still have more readers than the Daily News,” he said.
Journalists roast Mamdani in song at Inner Circle dinner https://t.co/xZ7MEsZnsz pic.twitter.com/I4zpT3gAPB
– New York Post (@nypost) March 29, 2026
Mamdani also shared the stage with Curtis Sliwa, a 2025 Republican mayoral candidate and well-known cat enthusiast, the NYP reported. During the skit, Mamdani received an allergy shot before her plan to bring a cat to Gracie Mansion.
Before the mayor’s shooting, journalists played their own musical message over City Hall, the New York Times reported. City & State editor Jeff Coltin played Mamdani in a shirtless apron, a callback to one of the mayor’s past music video appearances. A parody song called “Mamdani Math,” performed to the tune of “Pink Pony Club,” was among the biggest laughs of the evening.
The Inner Circle has hosted the annual roast since 1923, making it a 103-year-old institution, PIX11 reported.
Proceeds from the gala fund student journalism programs in New York public schools and a scholarship at the City University of New York, according to the organization’s website.
