Fox News host Harris Faulkner criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during Friday’s Independence Day broadcast of “Outnumbered,” distancing herself from the mayor following comments he made in a holiday message that drew criticism from the panel.
Broadcasting from Liberty State Park in New Jersey, Faulkner reacted after co-host Emily Compagno took issue with remarks Mamdani made while discussing America and its history.
Compagno criticized the mayor over a quote in which he referred to the United States as an “arena of supremacy.”
The quote, however, came from a broader statement in which Mamdani said, “The powerful have always known their answer. America, in their view, is an arena of supremacy.”
Despite the wider context of the remark, Faulkner made clear she did not agree with the mayor’s message.
“Well, he’s not my mayor,” Faulkner said during the broadcast.
She continued by adding, “I wouldn’t have had him.”
Faulkner also pointed to the location of the program, noting that while New York City voters elected Mamdani, she resides across the Hudson River in New Jersey.
“But that’s what this city behind us voted for,” she said. “This is the Jersey side where I live.”
The exchange came as the Fox News panel discussed Mamdani’s Independence Day address, which was delivered earlier Friday from New York City Hall.
The mayor gave his remarks while standing behind George Washington’s desk, a historic setting for the holiday speech. He was joined by a group of naturalized American citizens, including himself.
During the address, Mamdani criticized what he described as the wealthy and powerful, portraying them as “small” and “weak.”
His remarks prompted discussion on “Outnumbered,” where panelists questioned his characterization of the United States and reacted to his comments about the nation’s power structure.
Compagno specifically focused on Mamdani’s reference to America as an “arena of supremacy,” a phrase that became the centerpiece of the discussion during the broadcast.
Although the full statement framed the phrase as describing how “the powerful” view America, Faulkner nevertheless rejected the mayor’s rhetoric and used the opportunity to emphasize that she is not one of his constituents.
Her comments underscored the political divide highlighted during the segment, with Faulkner contrasting her residence in New Jersey with the electorate that chose Mamdani to lead New York City.
The exchange was one of several moments during the holiday broadcast in which the panel discussed current political issues while marking Independence Day from Liberty State Park.
Mamdani’s speech itself centered on themes of wealth, power and the nation’s future, while also highlighting his own experience as a naturalized American citizen by surrounding himself with other naturalized citizens during the address.
The Fox News discussion, however, focused primarily on the mayor’s characterization of America and his criticism of the wealthy and powerful.
Faulkner concluded her reaction by reiterating that Mamdani does not represent her, pointing to the fact that New York City voters elected him while she lives across the river in New Jersey.
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