Never Trump heavyweight Bill Kristol backs Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor

Never Trump heavyweight Bill Kristol this week endorsed New York City Democratic Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani, opining that it made little sense to give former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., a political lifeline.

In a recent interview, he called the idea of "going back to Cuomo" "ridiculous," according to CMC Forum. Kristol currently serves as an editor-at-large for the Bulwark, an outlet that primarily espouses pre-Trump, neoconservative Republican views.

Formerly a major figure in the conservative movement, he opposed President Donald Trump in the 2016 primary and gradually fell into relative obscurity. 

His decision to endorse Mamdani drew online mockery, with many suggesting that his commitment to "principled conservatism" merely amounted to intense hatred of the Trump-dominated conservative movement.

"Ladies and gentlemen, 'principled conservatism' has reached its final form," quipped activist Christopher Rufo.

"Remember, if you're a conservative who voted for Trump -- you're the one who abandoned your principles.

Meanwhile, any True Conservative in this moment would naturally have to vote for the literal communist who wants to defund the police," Mark Hemingway sarcastically joked.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.