Reality television personality Spencer Pratt ignited a social media firestorm over the Fourth of July weekend with a strong denunciation of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whom he accused of being a "vile, commie mayor." Pratt's criticism targeted Mamdani's speech delivered on America's 250th Independence Day, which focused on immigration and critiqued aspects of U.S. history and institutions.
Mamdani, speaking on July 3, addressed the nation's anniversary from a historic setting, flanked by recently naturalized U.S. citizens. He questioned America's founding principles and present-day realities, highlighting what he described as contradictions within the nation. His remarks touched on wealth inequality, the influence of "oligarchs" in elections, and what he characterized as the mistreatment of undocumented immigrants by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
"As we mark 250 years, what do we see? We see a city of contradictions within a nation of contradictions," Mamdani stated. He contrasted the wealth of the United States with instances of child hunger and criticized the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Mamdani also described masked agents "terrorizing our streets" and criticized figures like Elon Musk.
Pratt, who previously ran for mayor of Los Angeles, responded in a viral video, asserting that "communists always attack your history." He argued that history serves as an anchor and that its erosion is a tactic by those seeking to dismantle societal structures and impose their own ideologies.
"The communist destroys your history so he can take your home and rebuild it in his image," Pratt said, urging Americans to embrace their history and national identity. He acknowledged that American history is imperfect, describing it as "messy" and "violent," but maintained that these struggles contribute to the nation's strength and identity. Pratt emphasized that while America's past has flaws, the nation's survival and global standing are causes for pride.
Mamdani, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Uganda, argued in his speech that America's exceptionalism lies in its capacity for change and the ongoing effort to fulfill its founding values. He suggested that the idea of America is determined by its people and that a narrow view of the nation excludes many.
"The powerful have always known their answer. America, in their view, is an arena of supremacy where only a select few are allowed freedom," Mamdani said, suggesting that some perceive America as belonging only to those with specific backgrounds. He countered this by stating, "The truth, my friends, is that America is exceptional because here nothing is fixed into place."
Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital regarding his remarks and the ensuing reaction.