New York City socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is drawing sharp criticism after taking aim at a well-known line from former President Ronald Reagan, using the moment to promote his administration’s push for government-run grocery stores, Fox News reports.
Speaking in the Bronx at the unveiling of the city’s first planned municipal grocery location, Mamdani referenced Reagan’s famous warning about government overreach—before rejecting it outright. The mayor, a democratic socialist and the city’s first Muslim leader, used the quote as a springboard to argue for a more active public sector role in addressing economic hardship.
“Standing here this morning, I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. He famously said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,’” he said. “It’s a good quote, but I disagree.” Mamdani countered with his own version: “I think the more frightening words are, ‘I worked all day and can’t feed my family.’”
Framing the initiative as a response to affordability concerns, Mamdani pledged that city government would step in to ease the burden on working residents. “We are going to use the power of government to lower prices and make it easier for New Yorkers to put food on the table,” he said, adding, “When government understands its purpose as serving the very working people that it has left behind, time and again, it can make a difference in the most pressing struggles facing our city today.”
The Bronx store, expected to span 20,000 square feet, is slated to open in 2027 and marks the second of five proposed city-run grocery locations. Mamdani previously announced a smaller, 9,000-square-foot flagship store in East Harlem, though that project is not expected to open until 2029.
Linking the grocery project to broader development plans, Mamdani said the Bronx site will be part of the “Peninsula” mixed-use complex and serve as “proof” that government-led initiatives can improve everyday life.
While the announcement drew applause from supporters at the event, the mayor’s remarks quickly ignited backlash online, particularly from conservative voices. Commentator Eric Daugherty blasted the plan on X, calling it a “disaster” and accusing Mamdani of embracing “deranged Marxist” policies. Others pointed to existing public-sector challenges in the city. Jennifer Harrison of the Victims Rights Reform Council referenced ongoing transit issues, writing that government-run systems like the MTA hardly inspire confidence. The official GOP account on X also weighed in, reposting Mamdani’s remarks and labeling him a “communist.”