A patriotic celebration in New York City quickly took on a far more political tone Friday as one of the nation’s most closely watched elected officials delivered remarks that are already drawing sharp reactions.

The speech, given just ahead of Independence Day weekend, touched on immigration, wealth, patriotism and the future of America while taking direct aim at several of President Donald Trump’s top priorities.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani used an America 250 event on Friday to criticize U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, billionaire Elon Musk, and what he described as an “arena of supremacy” in America.

Speaking alongside eight recently naturalized U.S. citizens, Mamdani celebrated the country’s immigrant history before turning his attention to modern political and economic issues.

“We see the wealthiest country in the history of the world, one where children go to sleep hungry while the world’s first trillionaire hungers for more,” Mamdani said, an apparent reference to Musk following the recent SpaceX public offering.

He also criticized what he described as concentrated wealth and political influence.

“We see monopolies that dominate every industry, and oligarchs who buy elections,” he said.

Mamdani reserved some of his strongest remarks for federal immigration enforcement.

“We see masked agents terrorizing our streets, eating food cooked by our undocumented neighbors before spiriting them away in unmarked vans,” Mamdani continued.

Later in the speech, he claimed ICE was “invading” New York neighborhoods.

“We see America each time neighbors link arms with neighbors without asking how long they have lived here or what papers they have as ICE invades our neighborhoods,” he said.

The mayor also praised generations of immigrants for helping build New York City despite historical discrimination.

“Over the years that followed, despite laws enacted by the federal government to bar their entry, despite sweatshop fires that killed hundreds of women, despite riots aimed at their very existence, immigrants made homes here in New York City, and they helped to make New York City,” the mayor griped.

Mamdani reflected on his own journey after immigrating from Uganda as a child.

Born in Uganda in 1991, he moved to New York at age 7 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2018 while retaining dual U.S.-Ugandan citizenship.

“My family did not arrive by boat, although we saw the Statue of Liberty from the window of the plane,” he said.

Mamdani told the newly naturalized citizens standing beside him that they now shared responsibility for shaping America’s future.

“Nearly a decade ago, I too felt what you feel — the joy of no longer being just a New Yorker but an American too.”

He contrasted his vision of America with what he said powerful people believe.

“The powerful have always known their answer. America, in their view, is an arena of supremacy where only a select few are allowed freedom,” he said.

He continued, “America, they will tell you, belongs only to those with the right accent or the right shade of skin.”

Mamdani also rejected the phrase often directed at critics of the country.

“There are some who respond to those who ask for more from America with a simple refrain. ‘Love it or leave it,’ they say,” said Mamdani.

“But patriotism has never been about pretending our nation is without flaws. Patriotism is every act of righteous dissent.”

The mayor concluded by calling on Americans to continue striving toward what he described as the nation’s founding ideals.

 

“What power each of us holds to bring America ever closer to the greatness so many have seen when they looked upon these shores,” the mayor added.

“The greatness that for 250 years has been America. Thank you. God bless America. God bless New York City. And happy Fourth of July.”