Rick Scott Blasts Zohran Mamdani’s NYC with Aerial Banner: “Move 2 Florida—Escape Socialism”
Senator Rick Scott flew an aerial banner over New York urging residents to escape socialism by moving to Florida, targeting Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s progressive policies. The move highlights tensions over New York’s political direction and Mamdani’s controversial stances ahead of the November 2025 election.
A provocative aerial banner soared over New York’s Coney Island and Jones Beach, declaring, “Hate Socialism? Us Too! Move 2 FL.” Orchestrated by Florida’s Republican Senator Rick Scott, the stunt targeted New Yorkers enjoying the summer sun, urging them to escape the state’s progressive policies for Florida’s “freedom-friendly” shores. In a Fox News interview, Scott boasted, “While New Yorkers enjoy their beaches, they got a little reminder that Florida has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and freedom from socialism.” The banner, seen by thousands, was a direct jab at Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist who clinched the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in June 2025, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Scott lambasted Mamdani’s platform, which includes free public transit, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores, as a threat to the American Dream. “New York was a symbol of American success, a city of unlimited opportunity,” Scott said. “Today, it’s a city only for billionaires, of campuses where Jewish students are attacked, and of persecution against capitalism.” He accused the Democratic Party of pushing a “radical agenda” to “destroy the country and rebuild it in their image,” citing socialist regimes like Cuba and Venezuela as cautionary tales. “It’s an old, barbaric, and dangerous idea that’s failed every time it’s been tried,” he warned. “Families fled those regimes to find freedom in Florida.” Scott concluded, “The American Dream is disappearing in New York, and New York families deserve better.”
Mamdani’s victory, with 43.5% of the primary vote, has alarmed New York’s Jewish community, given his support for BDS and refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.” Posts on X echoed Scott’s sentiments, with one user stating, “Mamdani’s socialism and anti-Israel stance are a disaster for NYC, Florida’s looking better every day!” With 4.7 million registered voters in NYC, Mamdani faces Mayor Eric Adams and Republican Curtis Sliwa in November, but Scott’s stunt underscores fears of a leftward shift.