It was supposed to be a lighthearted show of strength at Brooklyn’s annual Men’s Day open streets event on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Instead, it’s become a viral moment that’s rippled through New York’s political landscape, drawing in national figures, social media firestorms, and a fresh round of mudslinging in the city’s hard-fought mayoral race.
Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old socialist and Democratic nominee for mayor, found himself at the center of ridicule after struggling to bench press a 135-pound barbell. As cameras rolled and a crowd cheered him on, Mamdani—dressed in a white collared shirt, black slacks, and dress shoes—lay on the bench, attempting to hoist the weight. The spotter, a member of the organization 500 Men Making a Difference, never let go of the bar. After two assisted repetitions, Mamdani thanked his spotter and left the bench, but the moment had already been immortalized online.
According to The New York Post, the footage quickly went viral, sparking a wave of mockery. Conservative political activist and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines seized on the moment, sharing a video from 2022 of herself bench pressing 165 pounds—thirty pounds more than Mamdani’s attempted lift—while weighing just 130 pounds. "165lb relatively easy reps on a bench when I weighed 130lbs... Take note, Zohran Mamdani," she wrote on social media, pointedly adding, "I’m not saying we should judge politicians for how much they can bench but I’m absolutely judging a politician for how much he can bench."
Gaines, who rose to prominence after tying for fifth place with trans athlete Lia Thomas in 2022 collegiate swimming, has become an outspoken commentator on gender and sports. She’s also been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump’s 'Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports' executive order, adding another layer of political intrigue to her jab at Mamdani.
The ridicule didn’t stop with Gaines. New York’s incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, was quick to pile on. Adams, 64, completed multiple reps at the same event—without assistance—and shared a video online to drive the point home. "64 vs. 33. A lifetime of hard work vs. a silver spoon. The results speak for themselves," Adams wrote on X (formerly Twitter), before adding the cutting line: "The weight of the job is too heavy for ‘Mamscrawny.’ The only thing he can lift is your taxes." The nickname "Mamscrawny" quickly caught fire among Adams’ supporters and critics alike.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, another heavy-hitter in the mayoral race, also joined the chorus. "This guy can’t bench his own body weight, let alone carry the weight of leading the most important city in the world," Cuomo quipped, according to The Daily Mail. The barbs reflect the increasingly personal nature of the campaign, where even a failed gym lift becomes ammunition.
Mamdani’s campaign, meanwhile, has been defined by bold, progressive proposals—including a $9 billion plan to raise taxes on millionaires and corporations to fund fare-free buses, free child care, and city-owned grocery stores. He’s also advocated for spending $65 million on transgender care and has pushed for defunding the NYPD. These policies have drawn both passionate support and fierce opposition. Mamdani’s anti-Israel views and a recent extravagant wedding in Uganda have only added to his controversial profile.
The Men’s Day incident, however, offered his rivals an easy target. As The New York Post described, photos from the event showed both of Mamdani’s attempted reps required full assistance from his spotter. Social media users quickly seized on the spectacle, with one onlooker at the event shouting, "This is how you move up in the polls," as Mamdani struggled with the barbell.
While the mockery was relentless, some tried to inject a touch of perspective. After conceding defeat on the bench, Mamdani credited his spotter from 500 Men Making a Difference for stepping in—a gesture that, while humble, did little to stem the tide of online ridicule.
The episode has also become a microcosm of the broader campaign’s tone. Adams, eager to contrast his own physical prowess and blue-collar background with Mamdani’s, has used the incident to reinforce his campaign message. "A lifetime of hard work vs. a silver spoon. The results speak for themselves," Adams’ campaign posted, even mistakenly listing the mayor’s age as 67 (he is, in fact, 64 and will turn 65 on September 1).
Yet, Adams himself is not without controversy. As reported by The New York Post, the mayor continues to face mounting questions over corruption scandals involving close allies and campaign figures. Last week, former top aide Ingrid Lewis-Martin was accused of running a wide-ranging corruption scheme that allegedly traded political favors for $75,000 in bribes, with payouts including seafood and even a role alongside actor Forest Whitaker. In another incident, campaign volunteer and ex-aide Winne Greco allegedly handed a reporter a potato-chip bag filled with $300 in cash at a campaign event—a gesture immediately rejected, but one that added fuel to the fire.
Former Governor David Paterson, who endorsed Adams last week, defended the mayor on WABC 770 AM’s "Cats Roundtable" but acknowledged the scandals are hurting Adams’ reelection chances. "I have tremendous respect for the mayor. I have backed him up many times. I have even let it go when things happen," Paterson said. "But what happens in campaigns is you get nicked to death. And that’s what’s happening to [Adams]. Every time it appears that he’s gaining some momentum – and none of this was his fault – somebody affiliated with him, something happens." Paterson added that Adams’ poll numbers remain weak and that the potato-chip cash scandal "didn’t help the situation at all."
For Mamdani, the bench press debacle is just the latest twist in a campaign that has seen both surges of grassroots enthusiasm and waves of negative headlines. His proposals—ranging from fare-free transit to city-owned grocery stores—have captured the imagination of some voters but have also made him a lightning rod for criticism from both the right and the center. His main opponents in the general election are expected to be Adams and Cuomo, both running as independents, with former US Attorney Jim Walden and perennial Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa also in the mix.
As the campaign barrels toward November, it’s clear that the contest for New York’s top job will be fought not just on policy, but on personality, spectacle, and, apparently, feats of strength. In a city where image and grit often count for as much as ideas, a single failed bench press has become a symbol—fair or not—for the burdens of leadership and the unforgiving spotlight of public life.
Sometimes, the weight of the job really is more than just a metaphor.
