Former U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell slammed actress and progressive activist Cynthia Nixon on Wednesday, calling her support for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s socialist policies “moronic.” This follows Nixon’s viral Election Day video endorsing Mamdani’s plan for free child care and subsidized groceries.
“@CynthiaNixon thinks childcare and groceries can be FREE. Moronic,” Grenell posted on X, reacting to a video Nixon shared on Tuesday in which she backed Mamdani’s platform while urging voters to reject former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
. @CynthiaNixon thinks childcare and groceries can be FREE.
Moronic.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) June 25, 2025
“It is Election Day. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more excited to vote for anyone than I am to vote for Zohran Mamdani,” Nixon said in the video, filmed en route to her polling site. “We have a chance to elect Zohran to have fast, free buses, rent-stabilized apartments with the rent frozen, subsidized grocery stores, and free child care from ages 6 months to 5 years.”
Run don’t walk to GO VOTE FOR ZOHRAN MAMDANI FOR NYC Mayor!!!
Rank Zohran #1
Brad Lander #2
Adrienne Adams/Scott Stringer/Michael Blake or Zellnor Myrie #3 to #5.DO NOT RANK TRUMP BILLIONAIRE-FUNDED SEX PREDATOR ANDREW CUOMO pic.twitter.com/cydMezdSU7
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) June 24, 2025
Nixon, a longtime critic of Cuomo since her failed 2018 primary challenge against him, also wore a “Don’t Rank Cuomo” T-shirt in the video, though she noted it was hidden due to polling site rules.
On X, she urged voters to rank Mamdani first and warned against supporting “Trump billionaire-funded sex predator Andrew Cuomo.”
Following Mamdani’s upset victory in the Democratic mayoral primary Tuesday night, Nixon celebrated on social media, writing: “Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim democratic socialist, has won the NYC primary for Mayor!!!!!!”
Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim democratic socialist has won the NYC primary for Mayor!!!!!!
— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) June 25, 2025
REPUBLICANS SEE OPPORTUNITY IN ZOHRAN MAMDANI NYC MAYORAL PRIMARY WIN
The primary outcome, a major political shock, marked a stinging defeat for Cuomo, who had once been seen as the front-runner. With 99% of precincts reporting, Mamdani held a decisive lead. Cuomo later conceded, saying, “Tonight is his night.”
Nixon and Ella Emhoff, former Vice President Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter, celebrated the win at Mamdani’s rooftop watch party in Long Island City.