Actor James Woods delivered a series of stark warnings about New York City politics during a recent interview, arguing that Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s election represents a turning point for both the city and the country.
Appearing Monday on The Benny Show with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, Woods described Mamdani’s victory in unusually dire terms.
“I think the election of Mamdani was the most dangerous event to happen in the country” in modern history, Woods said.
The actor framed his comments within a broader discussion about the direction of the United States, saying he believes the country faces significant cultural and political challenges.
“Look, I think America is the greatest human endeavor in the history of humankind,” Woods said. “I think it’s in terrible trouble.”
The conversation then turned to Mamdani’s religious background and the symbolism of his election in New York City, where the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
“The city where the World Trade Center was and the people in it were slaughtered, destroyed—how you could ever allow this Muslim invasion and cancer?” Woods asked.
After acknowledging that some listeners might view his remarks as prejudiced, Woods sought to clarify what he meant.
“And [people] say, ‘Well, what are you? Are you prejudiced?’ Well, yes. I’m sorry to say it,” he said before adding that, if quoted, he wanted reporters to note that he was referring to his opposition to what he characterized as extremist interpretations of Islam rather than to individuals solely because of their faith.
Woods went on to contrast his Catholic faith with his views of Islam.
“I’m a Catholic. I believe certain things. I don’t think certain other religions share my view, but they have a right to do it. This is America,” he said. “And I’d say you have a right to do it anyway.”
He continued by arguing that he objects to interpretations of Islam that advocate violence against non-believers, saying he would not support “Team Islam” if it embraced those beliefs. Woods did not distinguish between different schools of Islamic thought during the discussion, and many Muslim organizations and scholars reject the characterization that Islam, as a religion, calls for the killing of all non-believers.
Woods also expressed concern about long-term demographic and geopolitical trends, predicting that the United States could face increasing challenges from extremist ideologies. As part of that argument, he pointed to violence against Christian communities in countries such as Sudan, where international organizations have documented attacks on civilians amid ongoing conflict.
The actor concluded by raising questions about how New York’s new mayor would approach future commemorations of the September 11 attacks.
“What’s going to happen on September 11? Is Mamdani gonna go speak at the World Trade Center site?” Woods asked.
Johnson responded that some relatives of victims of the attacks have publicly urged Mamdani not to participate in commemorative events, reflecting ongoing political disagreements surrounding the mayor.
