Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience, Musk went on a frustrated rant about Mamdani, calling him a “charismatic swindler” and criticizing the positive media coverage surrounding his landslide election win.
“You got to hand it to him, he does — he can light up a stage,” Musk said. “But he’s just been a swindler his entire life.” ROGAN: “What makes Mamdani a swindler?”
MUSK: “uhhhhhhhh….” pic.twitter.com/ZqPGm9oI5G
However, Musk’s confidence cracked when Rogan asked him a simple question: what exactly had Mamdani done that was dishonest?
Caught off guard, Musk hesitated and stuttered through a vague response. “Well, I guess if you say to any audience whatever that audience wants to hear… instead of having a consistent message, I would say that is a swindling thing to do,” he said before trailing off with several awkward pauses.
Mamdani, who won Tuesday’s mayoral election in a landslide against Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa, built his campaign on affordability, housing reform, and higher minimum wages. His consistent message and grassroots appeal earned him strong voter support.
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Critics pointed out that Musk’s remarks were ironic, as he accused Mamdani of lacking consistency — the very quality that defined his campaign success.
After the interview, Musk appeared upset by Mamdani’s win. On his social media platform X, he claimed, “The New York City ballot form is a scam!”, suggesting voter fraud without evidence. Experts quickly clarified that the ballot features he called suspicious were completely standard.
Elon Musk’s failed attempt to justify his accusations shows how emotion sometimes clouds reason, even for powerful figures. His vague comments and later conspiracy claims hint more at frustration than fact. Meanwhile, Mamdani’s decisive victory shows that clear and consistent messaging still wins voters’ trust.
