Bill Maher spars with guests over NYC mayoral candidate’s dual citizenship

“Real Time” Host Bill Maher New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani sparred with CNN political commentator Kate Bedingfield on Friday over his dual citizenship, as the comedian warned that electing a democratic socialist candidate would not look good for the party.

“I think the entire Democratic Party in the country is on the ballot and the entire country is looking at this race to see which way the Democrats are going to go,” Maher said.

Maher said former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo wasn’t inspiring or all that exciting, but said he was “kind of normal.” Bedingfield said there were things in Cuomo’s past that she didn’t want to take for granted.

“They’re going to have to make a decision on this mayoral race. Now, they say it’s getting close. If it’s Mamadami in New York, I think it has very important national implications,” Maher said.

Bill Maher visits the SiriusXM studios on May 20, 2024 in New York City. Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani participates in the second New York City mayoral debate at LaGuardia Community College on October 22, 2025 in Long Island City, Queens, New York. (Noam Galai/Getty Images; HIROKO MASUIKE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Sparks fly as Cuomo, Mamdani tear each other apart during heated debate: ‘toxic energy’

“I think if Mamdani wins with a coalition of voters who were not very enthusiastic. Democratic Party Over the years, I think that’s been a good thing for Democrats. And I think if you’re in a purple district, say you disagree with some of his stuff and use that to establish your independent beliefs,” Bedingfield said.

Maher pushed back as he signaled Cuomo’s Criticism of Mamdani ties to Uganda, where he was born, due to the country’s treatment of LGBTQ people. Cuomo is running as an independent against Mamdani.

“He sounds a little more mainstream than you think I do. I mean, the point that Andrew Cuomo is bringing to New York is that he’s a citizen of Uganda. Uganda is a country where they kill gays,” Maher said. “If we were dual citizens of a country whose policy was to kill homosexuals, I would give up. I would give up that citizenship,” Maher said.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks to supporters at a canvass launch event in Prospect Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Derde Heavy/Fox News Digital)

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here 22 Oct. Talk of MayorshipCuomo said to Mamdani, “How come you don’t give up your citizenship or call for BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) on Uganda for imprisoning gay people because of their sexual orientation? Isn’t that a fundamental violation of human rights?”

On the HBO show, Bedingfield told Maher that he was buying into a “fear framework” that was not good for the country. She also accused Cuomo of “race-baiting” and the former governor suggested he could not be a leader in a “terrorist situation.”

Maher pushed back at Bedingfield, suggesting it didn’t look good for the Democratic Party.

“He campaigned this week with a guy who was an unprovoked co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and a character witness to the terrorist who orchestrated it, Omar Abdel Rahman. So Sarah Palin used to say Obama hung out with terrorists, which was bulls—, but I don’t know if that’s a great look for the party,” Mahaney said. With Siraj Wahaj.

According to CBS New York, Mamdani criticized the photo at the “Cost of Living” soccer tournament.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks to supporters at a canvass launch event in Prospect Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (Derde Heavy/Fox News Digital)

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“The same imam met with Mayor (Michael) Bloomberg, met with Mayor (Bill) de Blasio, campaigned with Eric Adams, and it became a matter of national attention when I met him. And that’s because of the fact that I believe and I’m on track to win this election,” Mamdani said. CBS New York.

MSNBC host Michael Steele also appeared on the panel and said it was ultimately up to New Yorkers to decide.

“In my opinion, I think what’s being left out of this conversation is probably the most important factor — and that’s the people of New York. They’re going to decide whether you’ve just done everything right, and every concern that people have about Mr. Mamdani is relevant to them, when they go to the polls,” he said.

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Mamdani’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment from Fox News Digital.