In a July 8, 2025 post on her site Courage Media, Ayaan Hirsi Ali commented on Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist running for New York City office. Speaking via an episode of the All‑In podcast that same day, she examined the ideological roots behind Mamdani’s platform, arguing that his advocacy reflects deeper shifts in academic and political currents.
Hirsi Ali noted Mamdani’s significant student debt—estimated at $200,000—and suggested this influenced his turn toward radical ideas. She warned that universities often shape students not just academically but ideologically, describing modern curricula as vehicles for political indoctrination rather than education.
Referencing his background as a Ugandan immigrant who fled tyranny in the 1990s, she observed the contrast between his gratitude for American freedoms and his later criticism of them. She warned this shift reflects a broader campus trend, where scholarship gives way to “studies” that emphasize systemic oppression in areas like gender, race, and colonialism.
Hirsi Ali expressed concern that Mamdani’s support for expanding government roles and his alignment with socialist–communal causes could erode civic values. While she framed her analysis around the implications for American political culture, she did not argue from partisan lines, instead focusing on ideological trends affecting society.
