Ken Griffin fires back at Mamdani, says business leaders must 'fight for their city'

Manhattan Institute expert Adam Lehodey says NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s outreach to Wall Street leaders signals a recognition that New York cannot fund progressive priorities without keeping businesses. wealthy investors in the city.

Billionaire Citadel founder Ken Griffin is encouraging New York's business leaders to take on socialist MayorZohran Mamdani, warning that the city's future could be at risk if employers. investors stay quiet.

"They need to find their voice and fight for their city," Griffin said Thursday at a Manhattan event,according to Bloomberg.

"My advice is to speak up. What’s the worst that’s going to happen? It will be that New York empties of talent and that’s a catastrophe. If the mayor wants to say a few words about you, your record speaks for itself: You create jobs, you create value. you pay taxes."

MAMDANI'S WALL STREET COURTSHIP SPARKS CRITICISM OF ANTI-BILLIONAIRE AGENDA

The Citadel founder is clashing with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over taxes targeting the ultra-wealthy. intensifying crime, reviving the same tensions that drove him to pull his business and billions out of Chicago.(Spencer Platt/Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg/Getty Images / Getty Images / Getty Images)

Griffin's remarks mark the latest chapter in an ongoing clash between Wall Street's billionaire class. Mamdani, whose proposals to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and luxury property owners have drawn fierce criticism from business leaders concerned about the city's economic competitiveness.

The financial titan. whose net worth is estimated at $48.3 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, argued that New York's corporate leaders should focus on the long-term future of the city rather than short-term political battles.

BILLIONAIRE KEN GRIFFIN SAYS CITADEL’S CHICAGO EXODUS WAS ‘NOT HARD,’ CITES CRIME, TAXES

"Everything should be viewed through the lens of, Citadel will be here far longer than he’ll be mayor," Griffin said.

The comments come as Griffin. Mamdani appear to be cautiously opening a dialogue after months of public sparring over taxes, wealth and thecity's business climate.

The socialist mayor recently reached out to Griffin afterpreviously criticizingthe billionaire hedge fund manager over his Manhattan penthouse. personal wealth. Mamdani notably stood outside Griffin's luxury property to promote his proposal to raise taxes on second homes in New York City worth more than $5 million.

CHICAGO KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN KEN GRIFFIN TURNS ON A CITY, NOW MAMDANI MAY FIND OUT

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's "pied-a-terre" wealth tax on luxury properties ignites a contentious debate, drawing strong criticism from Citadel CEO Ken Griffin. hedge fund manager Bill Ackman.

The outreach comes as some business leaders warn New York risks alienating major employers. investors — a concern Griffin has raised before in another major American city.

The tensions have fueled concerns among some business leaders that New York could follow a path similar toChicago, where Griffin spent years criticizing crime, taxes. public policy before moving Citadel's headquarters to Miami in 2022. The relocation marked the departure of one of the financial industry's most influential firms. underscored the economic impact that can follow when a major corporate player leaves a major city.

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Citadel founder. CEO Ken Griffin described New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s "tax the rich" video targeting him as a "creepy and weird" political advertisement.(Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Griffin has repeatedly pointed toFlorida's business climateas a model. warned that policies targeting high earners and businesses could make New York less competitive.

Griffin said he plans to talk to Mamdani "at some point in the months ahead."

"Let’s see where he is on the state of policy at that time," he said. "Actions speak louder than words."

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