Washington Post Slams NYC Mayor Mamdani's Video Outside Billionaire Griffin's Home

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced scrutiny Thursday over a video filmed outside billionaire Ken Griffin's home. The video was labeled creepy and weird, as well as an attack on success.

The Washington Post editorial board wrote that Mamdani has been scrambling to fund a major expansion of city government. It put the politics of envy at the center of the effort. This approach is bound to be a fiscal failure and already a moral one, the board said.

Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel hedge fund, called Mamdani's video targeting him creepy and weird. On Tuesday, he said New York City did not welcome success.

The Post noted the mayor did not accuse Griffin of breaking laws or dodging taxes. His only crime was owning a nice penthouse, or being successful, it said. The video was also unethical.

Mamdani said he wants all New Yorkers to succeed, including Griffin, a major employer in the city. He doubled down on his tax system argument, however. It rewards extreme wealth while working people are pushed to the brink, he said.

Reuters reported that Griffin's company said its principals and team members paid nearly $2.3 billion in city and state taxes over the past five years, according to the Post.

The Post also noted Griffin's donations to science, culture and education in the city. Philanthropy is a minor contribution compared with what his capitalist pursuits have done, it wrote. In pursuit of profit, he generated wealth for countless people and contributed more in taxes than socialist demagogues ever will.

Political leaders are role models for young people, the Post said. In New York, the most prominent politician sends a message to resent success rather than emulate it. This tactic has never ended well.

Author Daniel Friedman wrote that Mamdani's tax the rich agenda assumes the rich will stay despite Democratic Socialists' actions because New York City is irreplaceable. Mamdani is wrong, he said.

Former Mayor Eric Adams posted twice on X about the video, calling it irresponsible. Mayor Mamdani's video targeting Ken Griffin and using his home as a prop traded thousands of real, good-paying jobs for social media likes, Adams said. The mayor should apologize.

In an update, Adams said he communicated with Griffin. He expressed dismay over targeting Griffin's family outside their private residence. He asked Griffin to reconsider withdrawing from New York City. The goal now is to stop the narrative that hard-working New Yorkers who achieved the American Dream are the enemy, Adams wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani's office but did not receive an immediate response.