Hide your bodega cats because the “Gringo Mandingo” is officially coming for Gracie Mansion. Less than one week after Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th Mayor of New York City, actor and comedian Michael Rapaport has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2029 election. The I Am Rapaport host unleashed a blistering, hour-long verbal assault on the new mayor during his Monday podcast episode. He branded Mamdani a “sh*t stain” and officially announced his intent to run for office to “save the city” from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) rising star.
While celebrity political runs are often dismissed as publicity stunts, Rapaport’s vitriol suggests this is personal. The announcement marks the culmination of a year-long digital feud between the 55-year-old actor and the 34-year-old progressive mayor. It signals that the next four years of New York politics will be anything but quiet.
The announcement dropped on the January 5 episode of the I Am Rapaport Stereo podcast. Rapaport, never one for subtlety, spent the majority of the broadcast dismantling Mamdani’s inauguration speech before pivohttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DS78vmMkSES/?igsh=MW0zZmUyb3djc2E1Zw%3D%3Dting to his own political ambitions.
“Welcome to the ziggy zone of disruption. My name is Michael Rapaport, a.k.a. Mayor Rapaport,” the actor declared in the opening minutes. He continued to refer to himself by the title throughout the show, alongside his other colorful nicknames like “The Enflamed Ashkenazi” and “The Sultan of Sniff.”
But the comedy quickly gave way to genuine anger. Rapaport blasted Mamdani’s victory in the 2025 election, where the young assemblymember shocked the political establishment by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
“We have a sh*t- stain at the helm right now,” Rapaport shouted into the microphone, his voice cracking with intensity. “It is a f**king reality. I think he’s going to supersede our wildest fears and expectations. You got Zoron the Moron now… but Mayor Rapaport is coming.”
The actor cited Mamdani’s pro-Palestine stance and his criticism of Israel as the primary motivators for his run. Rapaport has become one of Hollywood’s most vocal pro-Israel advocates since late 2023. He views Mamdani’s rise as a direct threat to New York’s Jewish community and the safety of the city at large.
Rapaport’s announcement comes just days after Mamdani made history on January 1. The former state assemblymember became the first Muslim and first South Asian mayor of New York City. He also turned heads by choosing to hold his private swearing-in ceremony inside a decommissioned subway station below City Hall. It was a nod to his campaign promise to fix the MTA and support the working class.
Mamdani, the son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and academic Mahmood Mamdani, took his oath on two Qurans. One belonged to his grandfather. The other was a historic text borrowed from the New York Public Library that once belonged to Black historian Arturo Schomburg.
While supporters hailed the moment as a triumph for diversity and working-class New Yorkers, Rapaport saw it differently. On his podcast, he mocked the subway ceremony as “performance art” by a “trust fund socialist” who has never held a real job.
“He’s down there in the rat tunnels pretending he’s one of us,” Rapaport scoffed. “Meanwhile, he’s planning to tax the people who actually keep this city running until they leave for Florida. It’s a joke. It’s a bad movie, and I’m the only one willing to yell cut.”
To understand the animosity, you have to look at Mamdani’s rapid ascent. Before he was a politician, he was a rapper known as “Young Z” who made music videos about life in Queens. He pivoted to politics in 2020. He unseated a long-time incumbent to win a seat in the State Assembly and quickly made a name for himself as a disruptor.
His mayoral campaign in 2025 was built on a bold, left-wing platform. He promised free bus fares, a rent freeze on stabilized apartments, and higher taxes on the wealthy. To the shock of pundits, it worked. He mobilized young voters and progressives to defeat the formidable Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary and coasted to victory in the general election against Curtis Sliwa.
Rapaport represents the exact opposite end of the cultural spectrum. A native New Yorker known for his roles in True Romance, Deep Blue Sea, and Atypical, he has rebranded himself in recent years as a loud-mouthed political commentator. Once a fierce critic of Donald Trump, Rapaport has shifted rightward on many issues. This shift is largely driven by his concerns over antisemitism and “woke” politics.
He views Mamdani as the embodiment of everything wrong with the modern Democratic Party. In his eyes, Mamdani is a “Ziophobe” (a term Rapaport uses to describe anti-Zionists) who will let crime run rampant while focusing on identity politics and international affairs rather than potholes and trash collection.
Can Rapaport Actually Win?
It is easy to laugh off Rapaport’s announcement as content for his podcast. However, the actor insists he is deadly serious. He told listeners he is already forming an exploratory committee and speaking with donors who are “terrified” of Mamdani’s economic policies.
“2025 was crazy, and I don’t see it getting any cooler in 2026,” Rapaport said. “I’ll own my mistakes, apologize when I screw up, and fight to make this city safe, affordable, and thriving. No fake grins. No bulls**t.”
Political analysts are skeptical but cautious. In the age of celebrity politicians (from Donald Trump to Arnold Schwarzenegger), name recognition goes a long way. Rapaport has millions of followers on social media and a unique ability to cut through the noise with his brash, street-corner style of communication.
However, running a city of 8 million people is different from recording a podcast in a home studio. Rapaport would need to build a coalition that extends beyond his internet fanbase. He would also need to navigate the brutal scrutiny of the New York press. The media would undoubtedly dig into his past controversies and feuds, including his recent legal battle with Barstool Sports and his history of aggressive social media behavior.
Rapaport’s strategy seems to be clear. He intends to attack Mamdani early and often. He has already coined several nicknames for the new mayor, including “Zohran the Ziophobe” and “The TikTok Tyrant.”
He is betting that Mamdani’s progressive policies will backfire. If crime rates rise or the city’s economy stalls under the new tax plan, Rapaport will be waiting in the wings to say, “I told you so.” He is positioning himself as the voice of the “forgotten” New Yorker who is tired of progressive experiments.
For his part, Mayor Mamdani has yet to respond to the “Mayor Rapaport” announcement. His office declined a request for comment from Yahoo Entertainment. A spokesperson stated only that the Mayor is “focused on delivering for working families, not engaging with internet trolls.”
But silence might not be an option for long. If Rapaport keeps up the pressure and continues to use his massive platform to attack the administration, Mamdani may be forced to engage. This would set the stage for a three-year battle for the soul of the city.
Fan Reactions: “We Need the Gringo Mandingo”
Social media, naturally, is having a field day. Rapaport’s Instagram comments are flooded with support from fans using the hashtag #MayorRapaport.
“Finally, someone with a backbone,” one user wrote. “New York needs a loudmouth who actually loves the city.”
Conversely, Mamdani’s supporters are already mobilizing to mock the potential run. “Michael Rapaport running for mayor is the most unserious thing to happen in 2026 so far,” tweeted one prominent DSA organizer. “Stick to reviewing housewives’ fights, Mike.”