Riley Gaines Mocks NYC Socialist Zohran Mamdani After Bench Press Fail Goes Viral
Swimmer-turned-commentator Riley Gaines is making headlines again, this time for taking a swipe at New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani after a video of his gym mishap went viral over the weekend.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist running for NYC mayor, attended the Men’s Day open streets event in Brooklyn on Saturday. As part of the festivities, he attempted to bench press 135 pounds—a weight commonly considered beginner-level in the fitness world.
Unfortunately for Mamdani, the attempt didn’t go as planned. Video footage captured him struggling under the bar, ultimately needing a spotter’s help to complete the lift. The clip spread like wildfire across social media, earning him the mocking nickname “Mamscrawny.”
Riley Gaines Joins the Roast
Gaines, who became a household name for her outspoken stance on fairness in women’s sports, jumped into the conversation with a video of her own. On Monday, she posted a throwback clip from 2022 showing herself bench pressing more than her body weight with ease.
“165lb relatively easy reps on a bench when I weighed 130lbs,” Gaines wrote. “Take note, Zohran Mamdani.”
But she didn’t stop there. In another post on X (formerly Twitter), Gaines doubled down:
“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.”
Her remarks quickly racked up thousands of likes and retweets, fueling the viral firestorm surrounding Mamdani’s gym fail.
Political Rivals Pile On
Mamdani’s embarrassing moment didn’t go unnoticed by his competition. Current Mayor Eric Adams, who also participated in the event, seized the opportunity to flex—literally. At 64 years old, Adams performed the same lift without assistance, then posted the video online with a jab aimed at Mamdani:
“64 vs 33. A lifetime of hard work vs. a silver spoon. The results speak for themselves.”
He didn’t hold back in his caption either:
“The weight of the job is too heavy for ‘Mamscrawny.’ The only thing he can lift is your taxes.”
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo chimed in as well, writing:
“This guy can’t bench his own body weight, let alone carry the weight of leading the most important city in the world.”
Even random social media users joined the fun. One viral post from @FreeThinkerFit read:
“70-year-old RFK Jr. makes 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani look incredibly weak on bench press.”
From Meme to Mayoral Trouble
While Mamdani’s failed lift might seem like harmless fun, the viral moment comes at a critical time in his campaign. Already facing stiff competition from Adams and Cuomo, this public embarrassment gives his opponents more ammunition—and could sway voters who view physical fitness as a sign of discipline and leadership.
The hashtag #Mamscrawny is now trending, and with figures like Riley Gaines fueling the conversation, it’s unlikely to fade anytime soon.
Whether this incident becomes a defining moment or just a fleeting meme remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: in politics, every lift counts.
