Podcast giant Joe Rogan did not hold back this week when weighing in on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s latest budget proposal, blasting the Democrat as “a fucking psychopath” over plans to spend an additional $1.2 billion on migrants.
During Thursday’s episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan reacted to reports that Mamdani’s fiscal year 2027 budget, published Tuesday, allocates the additional funding for migrants coming to New York City. The New York Post first reported the details of the proposal.
“He’s a fucking psychopath. Like, the amount for migrants is crazy,” Rogan said. “There should be zero dollars for illegal immigrants.”
Rogan’s guest, author and commentator Michael Malice, pushed back slightly, suggesting that migrants would need to be fed to prevent theft and disorder.
“Human beings need food. What are you going to do?” Malice asked.
“Get them jobs,” Rogan responded.
When Malice questioned how such a process would work, Rogan joked, “Get him a job in Guatemala.”
Malice countered by asking whether it would be preferable to give migrants food rather than have them compete for employment. “I don’t want them taking American citizens’ jobs,” Malice said.
The two agreed that the current situation was a “mess.” Malice argued that it was not possible to simply “throw [migrants] away.”
“Unless you’re going to remove them from the country,” Rogan replied.
“Right,” Malice answered.
Mamdani’s overall budget proposal totals $127 billion — a figure that exceeds the budgets of 47 states. According to reporting, the plan would increase taxes on more than 3 million New York City residents.
The Washington Post editorial board also criticized the proposal Wednesday, mocking the mayor’s planned tax hikes and questioning the sustainability of his spending priorities.
“The reality is that Americans may like the idea of ‘free’ stuff — it’s how socialists win elections — but they are less excited about having to pay for it,” the board wrote. “They’re even less excited when they live in a state that ranks at the very bottom of the Tax Foundation’s State Tax Competitiveness Index.”
The editorial board further dismissed Mamdani’s claim that his administration had identified $1.7 billion in cuts.
“Mamdani claims his administration has found $1.7 billion to cut, but that’s a laughable number,” the board wrote. “The reality is that Mamdani is trying to expand a city government that already does way too much. The city should provide basic services, such as law and order, but instead it pours billions into social spending like housing and health care.”
Mamdani has previously drawn attention for his stance on immigration enforcement. On Jan. 20, he confirmed on The View that he supported abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In a Dec. 7 post on X, he instructed New Yorkers on how to obstruct ICE agents.
He also announced during a Jan. 23 press conference that his free childcare policy would apply to all, including illegal immigrants.
As debate intensifies over how cities should handle the ongoing migrant influx, Mamdani’s spending plan is now drawing fire not only from conservative commentators like Rogan but also from editorial voices raising concerns about taxes and priorities in the nation’s largest city.
