Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist running for New York City mayor, is under fire after reports revealed he identified as “Black” and “Asian” on his Columbia University application despite being of Indian descent, raising questions about his use of race-conscious admissions policies.
Key Facts:
- Zohran Mamdani identified as “Black or African American” and “Asian” on his 2009 Columbia University application.
- His SAT score of 2140 was below Columbia’s median score for accepted students at the time.
- Mamdani later said he doesn’t consider himself Black and claimed the selection was to reflect his “complex background.”
- The internal data about Mamdani came from a leaked Columbia admissions database following a cyberattack.
- Mamdani is the Democratic nominee for NYC mayor and is campaigning on a far-left agenda to radically transform the city.
The Rest of The Story:
Zohran Mamdani, who is currently running to unseat Mayor Eric Adams, is being criticized for selecting racial identities on his Columbia University application that do not align with how he identifies today.
In 2009, Mamdani marked both “Black or African American” and “Asian” on the application, also adding “Ugandan” as part of his background.
His SAT score of 2140 placed him within Columbia’s range for the class of 2013, but below the median.
He was ultimately not admitted, despite his father being a professor at the school.
Columbia at the time used affirmative action policies that considered race as part of admissions.
Mamdani later claimed his race selections were not meant to game the system but to reflect a nuanced heritage: “Even though these boxes are constraining, I wanted my college application to reflect who I was.”
However, The New York Times noted that Mamdani now denies ever identifying as Black outside of that form.
His family is of Indian descent, with no known intermarriage into native African groups, although Mamdani was born in Uganda.
We live in an age of authenticity. The American people know that with President Trump, what you see is what you get.
We can’t say the same thing about Democrats like Zohran Mamdani and AOC who lie about their backgrounds to get ahead. pic.twitter.com/i7S8Nl1AIH
— Congressman Brandon Gill (@RepBrandonGill) July 8, 2025
Commentary:
Mamdani’s story is a perfect example of what happens when radical ideology meets opportunism.
He claimed multiple racial identities at a time when doing so could have increased his odds of acceptance under Columbia’s race-conscious admissions policies.
That’s not a coincidence—it’s a calculated move.
He says it was an expression of identity.
But if that’s the case, why is he now distancing himself from ever having identified as Black?
The answer seems clear: it was a strategic choice, not an honest one.
He misrepresented his background for personal gain, knowing full well it could improve his academic prospects under DEI-driven policies.
It’s not just the deception—it’s the broader worldview he represents.
Mamdani is a self-declared democratic socialist, but as former President Trump has rightly said, that’s just a nicer way of saying communist.
His platform to remake New York City mirrors the failures seen in London’s progressive governance: crime, overregulation, and social decay.
His refusal to condemn radical slogans like “global intifada” or “from the river to the sea” reveals his extremist leanings.
These aren’t just controversial positions—they are dangerous ones, especially in a city as diverse and fraught as New York.
Despite being caught red-handed, Mamdani will continue to enjoy the support of the progressive left.
That’s because many of them are so ideologically blinded they’ll back anyone who checks the right boxes—literally.
If Mamdani wins, the very people cheering him on today will be the first to suffer under the weight of his socialist agenda.
High taxes, rising crime, and collapsing infrastructure don’t care about good intentions.
They are the natural results of policies that reject merit, common sense, and individual responsibility.
New Yorkers should be alarmed.
A Mamdani administration wouldn’t just steer the city left—it would drive it straight into the ground.
The Bottom Line:
Zohran Mamdani’s past actions and present ideology raise serious doubts about his honesty and leadership.
His use of racial categories on a college application, while now denying that identity, looks like a political maneuver rooted in exploitation of DEI policy.
New Yorkers have a clear choice in the next mayoral election—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Read Next
– Trump Admin Sets Its Sights on the Smithsonian For Pushing Divisive Political Narratives
– Illegal Immigrants Facing Massive New Financial Penalties For Refusing to Self-Deport
– Trump Signs Two Executive Orders Prioritizing US Residents Over Foreign Tourists At National Parks
– 144 EPA Officials Put on Immediate Leave After Signing Letter Slamming Trump Administration Policies
– OpenAI Chief Altman SLAMS Democratic Party For Turning Against Capitalism, ‘Politically Homeless’