WATCH: Zohran Mamdani Booed Off Stage at NYPD Event on Staten Island
Zohran Mamdani got a very different welcome on Staten Island than the one he received at other stops across New York City.
The mayor was visiting a National Night Out Against Crime event connected to the NYPD when several people began booing as he took the stage. Mamdani spoke for roughly 30 seconds before quickly leaving.
That short appearance stood out during the mayor’s first National Night Out tour. According to amNewYork, Mamdani crisscrossed the five boroughs while handing out proclamations, posing for selfies and highlighting what he described as record-low shootings and murders.
He appeared alongside Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as the city continued debating whether the NYPD needs more officers. Police unions have warned that officers are overstretched. Mamdani, meanwhile, has pushed a broader public-safety strategy built around violence prevention, mental-health services and neighborhood partnerships.
That approach includes a new Office of Community Safety. National Night Out is designed to strengthen relationships between police officers and residents, so the event put Mamdani’s public-safety message directly in front of local community members.
AmNewYork reported warm receptions for Mamdani at the Brooklyn and Manhattan events it attended. Staten Island was the exception. Video from the Richmond County stop showed the crowd booing as the mayor tried to speak.
Staten Island is widely viewed as the most conservative part of New York City. It was also the only borough Mamdani lost in the mayoral election. He received 23.1% of the borough’s vote, compared with 55.2% for Andrew Cuomo and 21.2% for Curtis Sliwa.
The video was posted by United Zionists, a pro-Israel group that has repeatedly criticized and protested Mamdani.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani tried to speak at an NYPD event in Staten Island. He got booed offstage.
pic.twitter.com/rHHXBsIpKH
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) August 5, 2026
The scene is a sharp contrast to the favorable image of Mamdani often presented by liberal media outlets. At least on Staten Island, the crowd made clear that the mayor’s message is not winning over everyone.
The reaction also highlights the political divide inside New York City. Mamdani can point to friendly receptions in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but Staten Island remains a much tougher audience. His brief appearance there showed just how quickly a public-safety event can turn into a public rejection.