This summer's World Cup was the perfect opportunity for our soccer-loving mayor to show off his vision of an international, welcoming city, despite the creeping fascism stemming from Donald Trump's Washington. Now, as world leaders descend upon New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, Zohran Mamdani has an even bigger opportunity to seize the global stage.
He's not wasting any time.
To the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly: Welcome to the world’s city. pic.twitter.com/3gof00qz9m
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) September 19, 2026
Describing the UN as having ushered in an "age of multilateralism" at a time when the dying gasps of American unilateralism unleashes hell across the world, Mamdani spent the weekend leading up to his first UNGA with left-wing mayors from across the world, who were clamoring to get some time with him as part of the Urban 20 gathering of cities from G20 countries.
Like the World Cup, hosting the U20 was yet another piece of insane Mamdani luck—it had been awarded to New York and Los Angeles last year after a request from the Adams administration (and to be honest, Eric would have absolutely loved this).
His pitch, for a government that aims to make life easier for you and your neighbors, has deep resonance in a time where politicians are deeply unpopular almost everywhere. Everyone wants a piece, apparently.