Rumors have been circulating, but here are the facts.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he has no interest in changing the U.S. Constitution to make himself eligible to run for president, shutting down speculation during a national television interview Sunday.
Appearing on ABC’s This Week, Mamdani was asked whether he would support amending the Constitution so he could someday seek the White House.
His answer was immediate.
“No,” Mamdani said. “I think the Constitution looks good the way it is.”
Why Mamdani Cannot Run for President
The U.S. Constitution is clear about presidential eligibility.
Under Article II, Section 1, a president must be:
- A natural-born U.S. citizen
- At least 35 years old
- A U.S. resident for at least 14 years
Although Mamdani turns 35 this year, he was born in Uganda before moving to the United States as a child. He became a naturalized American citizen in 2018, making him constitutionally ineligible to run for president under current law.
When ABC anchor Jonathan Karl mentioned his upcoming birthday, Mamdani joked:
“I’m very excited to focus on New York City, but thank you for reminding me of my upcoming mortality.”
National Profile Continues to Grow
While dismissing presidential speculation, Mamdani showed confidence that his political movement is gaining influence nationwide.
During last year’s mayoral campaign, he repeatedly accused former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of viewing City Hall as a stepping stone to higher office.
Now, with several progressive candidates winning Democratic primaries after receiving his endorsement, Mamdani appears to be emerging as one of the party’s most influential voices.
When asked whether Republicans are trying to make him the face of today’s Democratic Party, Mamdani shrugged off the criticism.
“Let them,” he said.
He argued that voters are responding to what he described as a new political movement focused on working Americans.
Progressive Victories Draw National Attention
Mamdani celebrated the recent primary victories of Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all candidates he publicly endorsed.
Their wins have intensified the debate over whether the Democratic Party is moving further left heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
Among the three, Avila Chevalier has attracted significant controversy over past statements supporting the elimination of prisons and border enforcement while making other remarks that have drawn widespread criticism from conservatives.
Despite those controversies, Mamdani defended her campaign.
“I think we are seeing a hunger that is not just felt by New Yorkers, but frankly by Americans from coast to coast, for a new kind of politics,” he said.
He argued that her campaign focused primarily on the economic challenges facing working families.
Question About Prisons Goes Unanswered
During the interview, Mamdani was also pressed about whether he personally supports abolishing prisons.
Rather than giving a direct yes-or-no answer, he responded:
“There are prisons.”
He then added that “safety is not something that’s up for debate.”
The exchange is likely to fuel continued debate over the direction of the Democratic Party as Republicans increasingly point to Mamdani and his allies as symbols of the party’s progressive wing.
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the New York mayor’s growing national profile is expected to remain a focal point in the broader political conversation.