'I Know a Marxist When I See One, Mamdani Is One' [WATCH]

U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL), whose family fled communist Cuba, issued a strong warning Thursday about the election of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, calling the self-described democratic socialist a “Marxist” during a press conference with House leadership.

“I’m the only Cuban-born member of Congress. That means I was born in Cuba. I was not born here in the United States. I didn’t speak a word of English until I got here. I was seven years old. And the reason I’m here is that my parents brought me here seeking freedom, freedom from communism, freedom from a Marxist regime,” Giménez said.

“And so I can tell you that I know a communist and a Marxist when I see one. They may call themselves a socialist. They may call themselves a democratic socialist. But, you know, make no mistake; Mamdani in New York, he’s a Marxist,” he added.

Giménez, born January 25, 1954, in Havana, Cuba, experienced the aftermath of the 1959 communist revolution firsthand. His family fled the island in 1960 after Fidel Castro’s regime began seizing private property, nationalizing industries, and cracking down on political opposition.

The congressman has often spoken about how his family’s escape from Cuba shaped his political views and commitment to preserving freedom in the United States.

Addressing Mamdani directly, Giménez said the New York City mayor-elect’s rhetoric mirrors that of Marxist leaders who came to power under the guise of populism.

“I understand you can be proud of that. But then, you know, if you’re so proud, don’t call yourself a democratic socialist. You are a Marxist, go ahead. Tell people exactly who you are. He couldn’t and he can’t because he knew he wouldn’t get elected,” Giménez said.

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The congressman warned that New Yorkers could face consequences similar to those experienced by Cubans under Castro.

“But I hope that the people of New York do not suffer the same consequences that my homeland of Cuba has suffered. Castro and the Castro regime destroyed my homeland. They can’t even keep the lights on. They don’t have food, they don’t have medicine, they can’t keep the lights on,” he said.

“It’s a total disaster of an island, a beautiful island that actually had the second highest standard of living in the Western Hemisphere when the regime took over,” Giménez continued.

“And so one of the reasons I’m in Congress, the primary reason I’m in Congress, is that I want to make sure that my children and grandchildren never suffer the same fate that my parents did, having to leave their country and bring us to a new country with about $10 in their pocket.”

Mamdani, a 32-year-old New York state assemblyman, has previously expressed support for explicitly communist causes and leaders abroad.

In a December 2020 post on social media, Mamdani reposted a tweet from an official Communist Party account celebrating the election of Comrade Arya Rajendran, a 21-year-old mayoral candidate in India.

“Comrade Arya Rajendran, age 21 new Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. She will be the youngest mayor of a major city in the world. Here she leads a detachment of Red Volunteers,” the original post read.

Mamdani added his own endorsement, writing, “Them: what kind of mayor does NYC need right now?” before reposting the message.

During his political career, Mamdani has also promoted several policies associated with socialist and communist economic systems, including rent freezes, government-run grocery stores, and proposals to limit or eliminate private property ownership within city housing initiatives.

Giménez’s remarks come as members of Congress and business leaders express concern about the direction of New York City’s leadership following Mamdani’s election.

The congressman emphasized that his warning is rooted in personal experience, not politics.

“I know what communism looks like,” Giménez said.