New York City’s current mayor, Eric Adams, wasted no time in mocking Mamdani. Adams posted a video of himself bench pressing the same weight without much help. (Videograb)
New York’s Indian-origin mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has gone viral after he attempted to bench press during the annual Men’s Day open streets event in Brooklyn on Saturday, August 23.
The 33-year-old Democratic nominee and socialist candidate got under a 135-pound barbell as the crowd cheered him on. However, he struggled to push the weight without help. Two spotters had to assist him while he managed just two reps before walking away, visibly tired.
The short clip quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread trolling and sharp reactions from his political rivals.
New York City’s current mayor, Eric Adams, wasted no time in mocking Mamdani. Adams posted a video of himself bench pressing the same weight without much help.
He also took a sharp dig at Mamdani, writing on X (formerly Twitter), "64 vs. 33. A lifetime of hard work vs. a silver spoon. The results speak for themselves. The weight of the job is too heavy for 'Mamscrawny.' The only thing he can lift is your taxes."
The post quickly gained attention, fueling a fresh wave of online jokes about Mamdani’s fitness and readiness for leadership.
Independent candidate and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo also used the viral moment to target Mamdani.
Cuomo said, "It's easy to talk; it's hard to carry the burden. This guy can't bench his own body weight, let alone carry the weight of leading the most important city in the world."
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His remarks further intensified the debate around Mamdani’s image, with critics suggesting the viral video highlighted his lack of physical strength to symbolize political weakness.
Despite the mockery, Mamdani’s popularity in the New York mayoral race remains strong.
Recent fundraising reports show he has raised almost double the funds compared to his opponents. A Siena poll last week placed him 19 points ahead of Cuomo, while a Decision Desk HQ average of 12 polls showed him leading by 13 points.
While his rivals try to use the viral bench press video against him, Mamdani continues to dominate in public support, suggesting that his policies, not his physical strength, are driving his campaign forward.
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