Cuomo clowns Mamdani after failed bench press stunt at Brooklyn event
Brooklyn, NY — Mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani’s political muscle flex turned into a viral fumble over the weekend — when the Queens Assemblyman couldn’t lift his own body weight in front of a packed crowd at Brooklyn’s annual Men’s Day event, prompting a public mocking by former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
He needed spotters. And even with those spotters, he struggled to bench 135 pounds, a weight most middle school male athletes have no problems with. Health experts say an adult male should be able to bench at least his own weight, if not more.
Mamdani, a rising star in New York City’s progressive wing and considered a top-tier contender in next year’s mayoral race, attempted a bench press demonstration Saturday to showcase his support for community health and youth fitness. But when the moment came, Mamdani couldn’t complete even a single unassisted rep, leaving him red-faced and wobbly as spotters quickly re-racked the bar.
Cuomo, who’s been testing the waters for a political comeback of his own, wasted no time in seizing on the moment, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to jab: “It’s easy to talk, it’s hard to carry the burden. This guy can’t bench his own body weight, let alone carry the weight of leading the most important city in the world.”
The stunt, which was meant to position Mamdani as both physically and politically strong, backfired as clips of the failed lift circulated online, earning him the nickname “Mamscrawny” from political critics. Even Mayor Eric Adams — himself a fitness buff — reportedly chuckled when shown the footage, according to a source close to City Hall.
The image showed him mingling with attendees and supporters, deflecting attention from the bench press debacle.
The episode has triggered a wave of commentary across New York’s political scene, where image and optics play a crucial role. While physical stunts are nothing new in campaign culture — Adams himself has been known to do push-ups and planks at public events — failure to pull one off can create lasting impressions.
Despite the fumble, Mamdani remains a serious contender in the Democratic primary. His progressive base has so far shrugged off the mockery, framing the episode as a distraction orchestrated by establishment figures looking to slow his momentum.