New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated that he does not support changing the U.S. Constitution's requirement for presidential candidates to be natural-born citizens. Mamdani, who is currently 34 and will turn 35 in October, would be eligible to run for president in terms of age but is ineligible to hold the office due to his birth in Kampala, Uganda, in 1991 and becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018.
During a Sunday interview with ABC's Jonathan Karl, Mamdani was asked if he favored altering the constitutional clause that specifies a president must be a natural-born citizen. "No," Mamdani replied, adding, "I think the constitution looks good the way it is."
Mamdani, whose endorsements recently contributed to the primary election victories of several Democratic Socialists, indicated his focus remains on his current role as Mayor of New York City. "I'm very excited to focus on New York City," he told Karl.
The discussion about presidential eligibility requirements has gained traction in recent months. Following President Donald Trump's second term, Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) proposed an amendment to the 22nd Amendment. Ogles' proposal aimed to allow Trump to serve a third term while prohibiting former presidents like Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton from doing so, as they had already served two consecutive terms.
Amending the U.S. Constitution is a complex process that requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the state legislatures. Given the current political climate, such an amendment is considered unlikely to pass, especially one perceived to benefit a single individual.
Mamdani's recent electoral successes through his endorsements have fueled speculation about his broader political aspirations, but his comments suggest a commitment to his mayoral duties and an adherence to existing constitutional structures.