New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday that he attempted to meet with Citadel’s billionaire CEO. Ken Griffin after the hedge fund executive blasted the mayor’s viral “tax the rich” video targeting him.
Mamdani said a member of his team reached out to Griffin but did not receive a response.
“We reached out to arrange a meeting,” Mamdani said Friday. “We’re still waiting to hear.”
“It remains an open invitation, and it’s one of the invitations I’ve extended to a number of business leaders in the city,” he continued. “I’m here to listen and here to have a conversation that goes beyond places of agreement, but perhaps places of disagreement to hear honest reflection and criticism, without imposing any preconditions on the nature of that conversation.”
BILLIONAIRE SAYS MAMDANI’S ‘TAX THE RICH’ VIDEO OUTSIDE HIS NYC APARTMENT WAS ‘MAKING’ AND ‘MAKING’
On April 15 (Tax Day), New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a video in front of Ken Griffin’s Manhattan penthouse, promoting a new policy of “taxing the rich.” (Spencer Platt/Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images / Getty Images)
This outreach comes after Mamdani posted a video on April 15 showcasing Griffin’s property while promoting a new pied-à-terre. tax proposal.
In the video, the mayor — who has pledged to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers — stood in front of Griffin’s 24,000-square-foot penthouse, which Griffin purchased in 2019 for $238 million, the most expensive residential sale in U.S. history.
Griffin later criticized the video, calling it a “creepy and weird” political ad.
A spokesperson for Griffin did not say whether he plans to meet with the mayor.
Mamdani’s tax break proposal sparks fears as business leaders warn of ‘fragile’ New York economy
Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin called the viral video of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani showing off his Manhattan penthouse while announcing a new tax a “personal attack” and a “profound lack of judgment.” (Denis Balibouse/Reuters / Reuters)
“Ken cares deeply New York City and welcomes thoughtful and thoughtful conversations about policies that can grow the city’s economy and create more opportunities for all New Yorkers,” the spokesperson said in a statement to FOX Business. “Reckless political theater serves no purpose and jeopardizes the future of one of the most important cities in the world.”
In the April video promoting higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and a pied-à-terre tax on second homes, Mamdani cited Griffin’s penthouse as an example of what he called a “fundamentally unfair system.”
“This is an annual fee on luxury properties worth more than $5 million whose owners don’t live full-time in the city, like this penthouse that hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin bought for $238 million,” Mamdani said in the video.
Speaking at the Milken Conference in Los Angeles Earlier this month, Griffin said Mamdani’s “creepy” video reaffirmed his decision to “double down” on business in Miami.
MAMDANI THANKS SAME BILLIONAIRE HE TARGETED IN TAX VIDEO FOR NYPD MONEY
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his team contacted Citadel CEO Ken Griffin following criticism of a viral tax proposal video. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“Mamdani made it very clear: New York doesn’t value success,” Griffin said during the panel.
Citadel is currently building a new headquarters in Miami, and Griffin has reiterated plans to expand the company’s operations. presence in Floridaciting the state’s business-friendly policies.
The mayor’s office previously told Fox News Digital that Mamdani “wants all New Yorkers to succeed,” including Griffin, whom he described as a major employer in the city.
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New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has previously criticized billionaires, including Ken Griffin, whom he recently thanked for his support of the police. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/Getty Images)
“However, this does not negate the fact that our tax system is fundamentally broken,” the statement continued. “It rewards extreme wealth while workers are pushed to the brink.”
“The status quo is unsustainable and unjust,” adds the text. “If we want this city to become an affordable place for workers, we need meaningful tax reform that includes the wealthiest New Yorkers contributing their fair share.”
Nikolas Lanum and Alexandra Koch of FOX Business contributed to this report.
