NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Mamdani Struggles Bench Press Brooklyn Event

Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old Democratic and Socialist nominee for New York mayor, attracted widespread attention and ridicule after failing to lift a 135-pound barbell unassisted at the annual Men’s Day open streets event in Brooklyn. Videos and photos showed Mamdani requiring full assistance for his two bench press attempts, leading to criticism from political rivals and social media users who mocked his physical strength. Despite the bench press struggle, Mamdani later demonstrated his soccer skills, a nod to Uganda, his birthplace, by removing his boots and kicking a ball at an inflatable target. He also addressed the crowd, expressing gratitude to event organizers and optimism about his mayoral campaign. Supporters defended him, emphasizing that physical strength is irrelevant to public service, while detractors used the incident to question his fitness for office. The event, which celebrates community with outdoor gyms and music, highlighted both Mamdani’s vulnerabilities and his connection with local residents.