Social media users recently shared a fabricated rumor alleging that Zohran Mamdani told Robert De Niro to unload his Tribeca property amid ongoing debates over the city’s wealth tax.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As discussions and controversies continue to swirl around New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his proposed wealth tax policies, a fabricated story gained traction online. The rumor falsely claimed that the mayor urged Hollywood icon Robert De Niro to pack up and sell his city residence to bypass the incoming financial levies, triggering widespread online debate and a swift fact-check.
The viral narrative insisted that Mamdani directly confronted the Oscar-winning actor, telling him to leave town if he refused to get behind the administration’s tax plans.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani told Robert De Niro to sell his home over wealth tax
🚨ZOHRAN MAMDANI JUST TOLD ROBERT DE NIRO TO SELL HIS TRIBECA HOME AND GET OUT IF HE DOESN’T LIKE THE WEALTH TAX!
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The communist mayor is done with the Hollywood hypocrite.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he’s “getting pretty tired” of Robert De… pic.twitter.com/7C832XUzD7
According to the widely shared post on X, Mamdani allegedly targeted De Niro over supposed pushback against the wealth tax agenda.
Labeling the mayor with politically charged terminology, the post alleged that Mamdani had grown impatient with the actor’s purported opposition.
“He knew my plans when he campaigned for me,” the fabricated quote read. “I think he was under the impression that I would exempt him, even though he’s worth $150 million.”
The online post concluded by criticizing De Niro as a wealthy celebrity hypocrite who initially backed Mamdani’s platform.
While a portion of social media users accepted the tale at face value, many others expressed skepticism and urged others to verify the source before spreading the rumor.
Fact Check: No credible evidence supports the claim
Ultimately, the claim holds no truth. There are zero official public records or announcements indicating that Mamdani ever suggested the legendary actor put his Tribeca real estate on the market.
Furthermore, no legitimate news outlets have reported any friction between the ‘Taxi Driver’ star and the mayor regarding the city’s tax initiatives.
A comprehensive search yields no credible coverage of the alleged feud, aside from independent fact-checkers debunking the social media fabrication.
Observers also noted that the profile originating the rumor lacks credibility, frequently pushing unverified content designed primarily to maximize online engagement.
NYC homeowners challenge Zohran Mamdani’s pied-a-terre tax
The emergence of this fake story follows real-world tensions surrounding local real estate policies. Recently, three New York City property owners filed a legal challenge against Mamdani’s controversial pied-a-terre tax.
The plaintiffs argue that the city improperly shifted the administrative burden onto residents, requiring property owners to prove their exemption eligibility rather than having the local government accurately identify qualified homes.
According to court documents, the Department of Finance allegedly overstepped its legal bounds by blanket-listing nearly one million properties potentially subject to the surcharge.
The lawsuit also pointed out that the department issued roughly 17,000 official warnings to homeowners, threatening substantial five-figure tax penalties unless they actively secured an exemption.