JD Vance condemns Zohran Mamdani's Independence Day message

In the United States, Vice President JD Vance delivered a critical speech on July 5, 2025, during the Claremont Institute’s Statesmanship Award Dinner held in San Diego, California. This event took place shortly after the Fourth of July, which is a significant national holiday commemorating the country’s independence. Vance targeted Zohran Mamdani, the socialist candidate for New York City mayor, accusing him of insulting the nation on its most sacred day. He noted that Mamdani had failed to express earnest appreciation for Independence Day in his public statements, only addressing it in a social media post that Vance deemed disrespectful and lacking gratitude. Vance cited that Mamdani's comments about America being "beautiful, contradictory, unfinished" did not convey a sense of gratitude for the country that provided refuge to his family, who fled Uganda amid political turmoil under Idi Amin's regime. This critique was framed against the backdrop of increasing leftist tendencies within the Democratic Party, following Mamdani’s primary win against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, which Vance perceives as indicative of a troubling shift. Vance expressed concern that Mamdani's political coalition was built upon a foundation of elite dissatisfaction and identity politics, suggesting that such a coalition might not resonate beyond New York City. The vice president wrapped up his remarks by contrasting Mamdani's sentiments with those of former President Donald Trump, who he believes presented a more unifying and patriotic vision for the United States during his tenure, underscoring the importance of statesmanship that appreciates the nation's history and achievements.