New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has sparked a peculiar controversy with his recent move into Gracie Mansion.
Fox News reported that on Jan. 12, Mamdani told reporters of his hope to install bidets in the historic mayoral residence, a statement that drew sharp mockery from a prominent city Democrat and comparisons to past criticism of President Donald Trump’s White House renovations.
Gracie Mansion, built in 1799 by merchant Archibald Gracie, has served as the official home of NYC mayors since 1942, when Parks Commissioner Robert Moses designated it as such during Fiorello H. La Guardia’s tenure.
Located in the affluent Upper East Side, it stands as one of Manhattan’s oldest wooden structures, steeped in history.
Mamdani’s vision for modern upgrades, specifically bidets, has raised eyebrows given the building’s storied past.
According to HomeAdvisor in 2025, installing a bidet averages around $640, with costs ranging from $40 to $2,000 depending on type and plumbing needs.
HomeGuide notes standalone units could run between $700 and $2,600, while attachments might cost $100 to $300 with installation.
While the city’s Department of Environmental Protection cheered the idea, noting “more bidets = fewer wet wipes,” not everyone shares the enthusiasm.
A prominent New York City Democrat, speaking anonymously to Fox News Digital, ridiculed Mamdani’s proposal as out of touch with his proclaimed socialist values.
The critic quipped, “He’s been mayor for a minute, and now the socialist thinks he’s flush with so much cash he can buy bidets.”
That jab cuts deep, hinting at a disconnect between Mamdani’s rhetoric of equality and a seemingly indulgent personal upgrade.
The Democrat also drew parallels to the backlash against President Trump’s White House renovations, as the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom update showcased on Truth Social in November.
Trump touted the “highly-polished, statuary marble” as fitting the original vision, yet historians disagreed, and comedians like John Oliver called it “tone-deaf.”
Trump’s East Wing ballroom plans faced similar scorn, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries lamenting on MSNBC that Trump “found time to demolish the East Wing of the White House so that he can build a ballroom where he can be celebrated as if he were a king.”
