Bezos shows support for Mamdani after feud, marking unlikely alignment

Days after Jeff Bezos publicly disagreed with Zohran Mamdani, the Amazon founder is showing support for the mayor's newest initiative.

Last week, Bezos said Mamdani needed to stop villainizing billionaires, and suggested raising his taxes wouldn't help average workers.

But Mamdani's newest Commission of Government Efficiency marks an unlikely alignment between the two. Here's what to know.

Bezos on Mamdani's side for newest commission

This week, Mamdani announced the creation of COGE, which his office says will "examine how the New York City Charter can better support public excellence by improving efficiency, modernizing city government and ensuring government keeps pace with New Yorkers’ needs." It will serve as a charter revision commission, which looks at the city's charter that outlines how the city government functions.

The name mimics the well known DOGE agency, led by billionaire Musk. As a result of its work, thousands of federal workers were fired, and services were slashed. Mamdani has publicly disputed that the two will be similar despite their names.

In a comment on the COGE announcement, Bezos doubled down on his idea for taxes, writing: "And, with some of the savings, we can zero out taxes on the bottom half of earners.

"The best way to put money in people's pockets is not to take it out in the first place."

Bezos's comment on Queens teacher

Last week, Bezos joined CNBC and said Mamdani shouldn't be villainizing billionaires after the mayor was in hot water for using Ken Griffin's home in a video promoting his new pied-à-terre tax proposal.

"When you don’t know how to solve a problem, create a villain, blame them, but it won’t solve the problem. The only thing that will solve the problem is skill," he said.

One of Mamdani's biggest campaign promises was taxing billionaires more. But Bezos said it wouldn't work.

"I pay billions of dollars in taxes. ...If people want me to pay more billions, then let’s have that debate. But don’t pretend... that that’s going to solve the problem" Bezos said.

"You could double the taxes I pay and it’s not going to help that teacher in Queens, I promise you."

After the interview, Mamdani went to X to dispute the claim.

"I know a few teachers in Queens who would beg to differ," Mamdani said.

In the same week, the mayor announced that $9 million was retrieved from Amazon for outstanding fines.

“Amazon is worth $2 trillion. Yet, it did not deign to pay the millions of dollars it racked up in unpaid fines as its trucks illegally polluted our air and forced New Yorkers to breathe in their exhaust. We are going to collect every dollar they owe the people of this city,” Mamdani said in a statement.

“Today we are making clear that no company — no matter how large or powerful – is above the law.”