Kevin O’Leary Says Zohran Mamdani Is “Pleasant” — Even Though He Disagrees With His Policies

“Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary may not like Zohran Mamdani’s politics — but he admits the new New York City mayor made a strong impression.

O’Leary, the Canadian businessman and venture capitalist, said on Semafor’s Mixed Signals podcast that he met Mamdani at the December premiere of Marty Supreme, where Mamdani appears in the film.

“Very charismatic guy,” O’Leary said. “He came to the opening, he met with all of us, and I had a chance to talk to him.”

O’Leary said he was upfront about his concerns.

He told Mamdani that he doesn’t “agree with anything you’re proposing,” adding that he is “not a big fan of communism.” Still, he said he respects Mamdani’s ability to win and connect with voters.

“I have never seen social media so effective,” O’Leary said. “He cleaned up because he understood how to use each platform the right way.”

A planned meeting on housing

O’Leary said the two plan to meet again soon to talk policy — especially housing, an area where the two sharply disagree.

“We’re going to talk about policy on housing, where I invest, just to see,” he said. “I really found him a very pleasant guy. You know, I don’t like his policy.”

Mamdani has pledged to freeze rent on rent-stabilized apartments and expand affordable housing across the city.

O’Leary has warned that policies like those could scare off investors.

“You’re telling me I have to have frozen rent rates, even going into 3% inflation,” he said previously on Fox Business. “How am I going to be able to raise any money for a new build?”

Spokespeople for both Mamdani and O’Leary did not immediately respond to requests for comment about when their meeting might take place.