Spencer Pratt, the former reality TV star who previously ran for Los Angeles mayor, posted a viral video over Independence Day weekend criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's July Fourth address. In the video filmed at the site where his Palisades home burned down last year, Pratt criticized what he characterized as Mamdani's critique of American history during the nation's 250th anniversary of independence.
Mamdani delivered an immigration-themed speech from George Washington's desk flanked by eight recently naturalized U.S. citizens. The mayor, a naturalized citizen born in Uganda, addressed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, wealth inequality, and what he described as systems of supremacy in the United States.
"As we mark 250 years, what do we see?" Mamdani said during his address. "We see a city of contradictions within a nation of contradictions. We see the wealthiest country in the history of the world — one where children go to sleep hungry while the world's first trillionaire hungers for more."
Pratt responded wearing a T-shirt that read "the anti-socialists social club," sitting beside an RV near his burned property.
"Notice how the communists always attack your history," Pratt said in his video, which spread widely across social media platforms over the holiday weekend.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics of Pratt's response argue that Mamdani was simply exercising free speech and raising legitimate concerns about inequality and immigration enforcement. Supporters note that Mamdani explicitly stated during his address that every American has "the power to determine what America means."
"America is exceptional because here nothing is fixed into place," Mamdani said in his July Fourth speech, adding that the work of fulfilling values from the Declaration of Independence "belongs to us all" including "our newest Americans."
Progressive commentators pointed out that criticism of specific policies does not constitute hostility toward the nation itself. They argued that civic engagement around national ideals represents a healthy democratic tradition rather than an attack on history.
What the Right Is Saying
Pratt's defenders praised him for what they characterized as a passionate defense of American identity and history during a moment they viewed as an inappropriate time for critical remarks about the nation.
"The communists must attack your history," Pratt said. "Because history is what anchors you, it's what makes us attached to something."
Pratt argued that erasing or criticizing historical narratives serves to demoralize citizens and create openings for radical political change. He framed patriotism as a protective force against tyranny.
"As a country, we are batting 1,000. Not only is it a miracle that this radical experiment in self-governance even survived past 1776, but we are the champions of the world," Pratt said in his video.
What the Numbers Show
The exchange generated significant online engagement. Pratt's video received millions of views across platforms over the Independence Day weekend, with reactions split largely along ideological lines.
Mayor Mamdani was elected in New York City's 2025 municipal elections as a progressive candidate focusing on housing, immigration rights, and economic inequality.
Pratt's unexpected Los Angeles mayoral campaign in 2025 drew national attention when he emerged as a competitive candidate against then-Incumbent Karen Bass before dropping out of the race.
The July Fourth holiday marked America's 250th anniversary of independence from Great Britain, an occasion that traditionally generates both celebration and reflection on the nation's historical trajectory.
The Bottom Line
This episode illustrates how political discourse around national identity continues to generate intense public reaction in the current media environment. Whether a statement constitutes legitimate civic criticism or harmful anti-Americanism remains a subject of genuine disagreement among Americans across the political spectrum.
The viral nature of Pratt's response demonstrates that celebrity figures with large social media followings can shape political narratives regardless of their formal governmental roles. Meanwhile, Mamdani's speech reflects ongoing debates about how American cities should address federal immigration enforcement and economic inequality.
What to watch: Whether this exchange influences public opinion ahead of future municipal elections or serves as a flashpoint in the broader culture war over national identity remains to be seen.