Patriots owner Robert Kraft blasts Zohran Mamdani as 'divisive' after socialist's mayoral win in New York

New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's victory speech was 'divisive,' according to billionaire New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Kraft, whose son Josh failed to advance to Tuesday's general election in Boston's mayoral race, was critical of the newly elected Mamdani, whom the 84-year-old investor hoped would be a 'unifier.'

'It's sad to me that a man can get elected in the city of New York, the No. 1 city in America, with a lot of beliefs, and when I heard him come out and speak after he won, I thought he was going to be more of a unifier,' Kraft told Fox News. 'I think he spoke out in a way that showed divisiveness.

'And that really hurt me.'

While the 34-year-old Mamdani's speech focused on rising prices, which he sees as unfairly harming the city's lower classes, the mayor-elect's critics took issue with his attacks on President Donald Trump and the defiant tone he struck with the federal government's ongoing immigration crackdown. 

Mamdani also focused on what he sees as a 'mandate for change,' a 'new kind of politics' and a 'city we can afford,' after receiving roughly half the vote in Tuesday's election.

Kraft responded to Fox News and its conservative sports website, Outkick, by acknowledging Mamdani's surging popularity.

'I mean, he's tapped into something and touched something that people under 30 or 35 who, haven't really experienced the world, but feel that America's not living up to certain values,' Kraft said. 'We should pay attention to that.

'But not to the divisiveness and hate and, really, things that aren't in America's best interest,' Kraft continued.

'And it's a little sad for me to see that happen in the year 2025. We have to find a way to get a better understanding and educate the people who think they're solving a problem, but creating a bigger problem.'

A long-time supporter of Israel, Kraft also took issue with Mandani's views on the Middle East. The first Muslim ever elected mayor of New York has long been accused of sympathizing with terrorists – claims he's dismissed as 'racist, baseless attacks.'

Once asked if he thinks Israel has the right to exist, the pro-Palestinian Mamdani didn't back down, saying: 'I believe that Israel has a right to exist as a state with equal rights.'

Speaking with Fox, Kraft stressed his belief that the United States needs to support Israel for its own foreign policy objectives.

'The state of Israel represents the values of America and the western world and is actually doing the hard things to try to protect America,' Kraft said. 'We have aligned interests there.'

But Kraft did not criticize Mamdani's Muslim faith or the mayor-elect's outreach efforts within the city's Islamic communities. Instead, Kraft reiterated his belief that all Americans should have equal freedom to practice their respective religions.

'I don't understand why people have so much hatred and evil in them when we're talking about different ways to respect the Lord and honor God and have prayer,' Kraft said. 'Everyone should be free to do it the way they want.'

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has similarly objected to Mamdani in New York City.

A Patriots fan and fellow supporter of Israel, Portnoy discussed his company's future in the city with the Daily Mail earlier this week.

'There is zero value to being in New York for us right now,' Portnoy told the Daily Mail of Barstool's potential Big Apple exodus . 'There are many cities that are far more pro-business than [New York City] which is clearly anti-business.'

Already an ex-New Yorker with homes in Miami, Montauk and Nantucket, Portnoy won't be subject to Mamdani's proposed two percent tax hike on seven-figure earners. What's more, Portnoy isn't too concerned with the democratic socialist's plans to raise corporate tax rates in the city.

Instead, as Portnoy told the Daily Mail, he's considering relocating Barstool's New York office and hundreds of staffers because of Mamdani.

'The taxes is the least of it for me,' Portnoy wrote. 'He is a communist. I am a capitalist. I think wanting to be successful and rich is a positive quality. He thinks it makes you evil. I think hard work should be rewarded. He wants everybody to get a trophy.'

Portnoy's list of grievances didn't end there.

For starters, Mamdani previously voiced support for defunding police. And while he has since apologized to local cops, Portnoy still views the mayor-elect as an enemy of New York's Finest.

'I respect the NYPD and first responders,' Portnoy continued. 'He hates the NYPD and wants to defund them.'

As for now, Portnoy is still waiting to make a decision, telling the Daily Mail: 'I'll keep my options open and see what happens.'