Live updates: Mamdani debates Cuomo in NYC mayoral race

What did Zohran Mamdani say about defunding the police?published at 01:18 BST

01:18 BST

by Joshua Cheetham, BBC Verify

Zohran Mamdani has been heavily criticised, including by President Donald Trump, for his previous comments about the police. This topic was brought up earlier in tonight’s debate.

In 2020, during nationwide protests over the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Mamdani called for the defunding of the New York Police Department.

“We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD” he wrote on X that year.

“There is no negotiating with an institution this wicked & corrupt,” he wrote, referencing city budget negotiations around proposed cuts to the NYPD.

“Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence.”

Mamdani has since distanced himself from these comments, saying they were “out of step” with his current platform.

He issued an apology to the NYPD in a Fox News interview yesterday when challenged to do so.

During his campaign, Mamdani has said he does not want to defund New York’s police or reduce headcount, although he plans to cut down on overtime spending.

He has proposed creating a “Department of Community Safety” to shift some responsibilities away from police, and address the root causes of some crimes. The department would focus primarily on mental health services, gun violence reduction, victim services and educational schemes to reduce hate crime.

Mamdani explained during tonight’s debate that his views on the topic have evolved since becoming a New York state assemblyman, as he’s come to understand the NYPD’s work.