Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who recently secured the Democratic nomination for the New York City mayoral race, has enlisted the services of Zara Rahim, a former Obama administration staffer known for her controversial public statements.
Rahim, who once wished death upon President Donald Trump, has been employed as a communications consultant for Mamdani's campaign.
According to The Washington Free Beacon, Rahim received $3,500 for her consulting services in May. Rahim's public profile rose significantly in 2020 when she expressed her desire for Trump to succumb to the Coronavirus, shortly after the then-president was diagnosed with the disease. "Its been against my moral identity to tweet this for the past four years, but, I hope he dies," Rahim posted on social media, a post she later removed. She subsequently locked her account, remarking, "This fing rules."
Rahim, the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, has been actively involved in Mamdani's campaign, assisting in the creation of campaign videos and accompanying him to media appearances. Her political career includes volunteering for Barack Obamas 2012 campaign and working in his Office of Digital Strategy. She also served as a national spokeswoman for Hillary Clintons 2016 presidential bid. Rahim's client list extends beyond politics, including names like Mariah Carey, Netflix, Nike, Uber, and Columbia Universitys Incite Institute.
Rahim's outspoken nature extends to her social media presence. She has been known to express her disdain for America, as evidenced by her 2018 post asking, "Whos doing the 'America is a garbage can' themed Fourth of July style guide????" She has also publicly expressed her support for the "Defund the Police" movement, a sentiment shared by Mamdani.
Rahim is not the only controversial figure associated with Mamdani's campaign. His political director, Julian Gerson, has faced criticism for his praise of alleged United Healthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangione. Gerson described Mangione as "adored" for his defiance against "one of the most vile, self-enriching industries darkening our society today." Additionally, Mamdani previously employed Matthew Thomas, a fellow democratic socialist who served jail time for soliciting sex from a minor.
Despite the controversy surrounding these hires, Mamdani's campaign has not responded to requests for comment. The silence raises questions about the values and principles guiding his campaign, especially considering his socialist stance of "seizing the means of production."
As the November general election approaches, voters will be keen to understand how these affiliations align with Mamdani's vision for New York City.
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