Giuliani Slams NYC Mayor Over Homeless Deaths in Deep Freeze

Former mayor criticizes successor's softer approach as 10 people found dead on streets during brutal cold snap.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani harshly criticized his socialist successor, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, for the city's handling of homelessness after at least 10 people died on the streets during a brutal cold snap. Giuliani argued the city should be forcibly removing homeless individuals from the streets in freezing weather, a policy he says was in place during his time as mayor. Mamdani has vowed to take a softer approach, halting encampment raids, and only removing people from the streets if they pose a danger to themselves or others.

Why it matters

This clash between the former and current NYC mayors highlights the ongoing debate over how to address homelessness, with Giuliani advocating for a more aggressive, law-and-order approach versus Mamdani's focus on outreach and voluntary services. The deaths of 10 people on the streets during the cold snap have intensified this debate, with Giuliani arguing Mamdani's policies amount to "reckless disregard for human life."

The details

In the wake of at least 10 homeless individuals dying during the recent brutal cold snap in New York City, former mayor Rudy Giuliani lashed out at his successor, current mayor Zohran Mamdani. Giuliani claimed the city's policy under his administration was to "remove homeless from the streets when it approached freezing," but that Mamdani has changed this approach since taking office in January. Mamdani has vowed a softer touch, halting encampment raids initiated by the previous mayor, Eric Adams, and only removing people from the streets if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others.

  • At least 6 people known to the shelter system have been found dead in the freezing weather since Saturday.
  • 3 others have also died in the weather, with at least 7 of the 10 suspected of succumbing to hypothermia.
  • Mamdani took office as mayor in January 2026.

The players

Rudy Giuliani

Former mayor of New York City who served from 1994 to 2001.

Zohran Mamdani

Current mayor of New York City, who took office in January 2026 and has vowed a softer approach to homelessness.

Eric Adams

Former mayor of New York City who left office in January 2026, initiating encampment raids targeting the homeless.

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What they’re saying

“NYC has just experienced what it means to have a Democrat-Communist Mayor. The policy of NYC before, during, and after I was Mayor was to remove homeless from the streets when it approached freezing.”

— Rudy Giuliani, Former Mayor of New York City (X)

“This is a last resort. Our first method of outreach is to communicate to homeless New Yorkers across the five boroughs as to the options that they have. We however are not going to leave someone out in the cold if they're a danger to themselves or to others.”

— Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City (N/A)

What’s next

The city is expected to review its policies and procedures for assisting the homeless during extreme weather events in the wake of the recent deaths.

The takeaway

This clash between the former and current NYC mayors underscores the ongoing debate over how to best address homelessness, with Giuliani advocating for a more aggressive, law-and-order approach versus Mamdani's focus on outreach and voluntary services. The tragic deaths during the cold snap have intensified this debate, raising questions about the human cost of different policy approaches.