New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference before signing executive orders in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/AP)
Bishop Robert Barron has criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a line in his inauguration speech praising the “warmth of collectivism”, Fox News reported. In a post on X, Barron said: “For God’s sake, spare me the ‘warmth of collectivism’.”
There was a line from Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural address yesterday that took my breath away. He said he intended to replace “the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Collectivism in its various forms is responsible for the deaths of at least one…
During his inaugural address, Mamdani said: “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Fox News said the line drew criticism from several conservative figures.
Barron, who leads the media ministry Word on Fire, said Mamdani’s words “took my breath away”. He wrote that collectivist systems “in various forms” had caused large-scale loss of life in the past, and argued that Catholic social teaching rejects socialism and supports a market economy.
Barron said socialism and communism in countries such as Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea were “disastrous”, and that the market system is based on “the rights, freedom and dignity of the human person”.
Other critics also reacted to Mamdani’s remarks. Florida governor Ron DeSantis wrote on X that the “warmth” of collectivism “always requires coercion and force”. Senator Ted Cruz said that when communist governments rule, individual rights “are taken away”.
The “warmth” of collectivism that always requires coercion and force.
How many dead over the past 100 years due to collectivist ideologies? https://t.co/hWPzrO0GxG
Mamdani has signed several executive orders since taking office, including measures on housing, city-owned land and landlord oversight. He also revived the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants and announced two new taskforces on land use and planning.
The report said Mamdani has faced criticism for cancelling a number of orders signed by former mayor Eric Adams, including one relating to city policy on Israel and another on security near religious sites.
Mamdani has previously called Israel an “apartheid state” and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be arrested, while also stating that he opposes antisemitism and will increase funding to tackle hate crimes.
Fox News Digital said it contacted Mamdani’s office for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference before signing executive orders in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/AP) 
— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) 
