Video footage circulating on social media shows the crowd booing him as he took the stage to give remarks.

From Staten Island Live:

Mayor Zohran Mamdani received a decidedly chilly reception from some Staten Islanders Tuesday night, drawing loud boos, jeers and profanities when he appeared at the borough’s annual National Night Out Against Crime celebration in Midland Beach.

Mamdani arrived late in the evening as more than 3,500 residents and families gathered at Turtle Circle on the Midland Beach Boardwalk for the 43rd annual NYPD Patrol Borough Staten Island National Night Out Against Crime.

As the mayor made his way to the stage, sections of the crowd erupted in boos, with some attendees shouting for him to leave. Despite the hostile response, Mamdani delivered a brief greeting.

National Night Out Against Crime is an annual series of community events aimed at strengthening ties between police and residents while promoting public safety and crime prevention.

The borough is the city’s most Republican-leaning area in the city. It was also the only one Mamdani lost in the 2025 election, where he received 23.1 percent of the vote, compared with 55.2 percent for Andrew Cuomo and 21.2 percent for Curtis Sliwa.

Attendees told local media that artist and activist Scott LoBaido had been among a group hoping to question Mamdani over his reported decision to scuttle a plan to add 5,000 NYPD officers. Mamdani came under fire during the campaign season when past comments criticizing police came to light. 

In a June 2020 post on X, Mamdani wrote, We don't need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. But your deal with @NYCMayor uses budget tricks to keep as many cops as possible on the beat. NO to fake cuts - defund the police.”

He also called for defunding and dismantling law enforcement to “End the cycle of violence.”

https://townhall.com/news/jeff-charles/2026/08/06/watch-zohran-mamdani-get-booed-off-the-stage-at-pro-police-event-n2680807