Mamdani mocked by GOP for telling New Yorkers to set thermostats to 78

Republicans are criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) after he suggested residents set their thermostats to 78 degrees to help conserve energy in the city as it braces for triple-digit temperatures this weekend.

“New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool. Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can,” Mamdani wrote on the social platform X late afternoon Wednesday.

Conservative lawmakers and pundits linked the recommendation from the city’s first democratic socialist mayor to victories over the last two weeks by other democratic socialist candidates, arguing it is another example of Democrats embracing “socialism” or “communism.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Mamdani’s remarks are “Proof that communism is (unfortunately) alive and well.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said, “This is Communism at work,” while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said, “The Socialist Democrats are coming for your AC.”

“This is the future that WOKE Democrats want not just for NYC but for South Carolina too!” Graham added, responding to Mamdani’s post.

Recommending that thermostats be set at 78 degrees to reduce energy use, however, isn’t terribly unusual — including from agencies run by the GOP.

Earlier on Thursday, one reporter noted that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which reports to President Trump, was recommending a 75-78 degree setting “for energy efficiency.” By Thursday afternoon, the recommendation appeared to have been deleted from the agency’s website.

The DOE did not respond to a request for comment.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) was among those mocking Mamdani.

“Is this what was meant by the warmth of collectivism?” he said.

But a tech reporter responded to DeSantis’s taunt by noting the Florida Public Service Commission — whose members were hand-selected by DeSantis — has issued the identical recommendation for residents to set their AC units to 78 degrees in the summer, as recently as June of this year.

After Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded to Mamdani by saying, “In a first-world country, you could turn on the A/C,” a community note was added to his post that read, “Ted Cruz’s own state has made the same request on numerous occasions.”

Mamdani cast his recommendation as the city doing its part to conserve energy at a time when temperatures are high and air conditioning is running.

“Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment,” he said.

“A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved. Let’s ease demand — and get through the heat — together,” he added.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) called the post “an act of war against women in menopause,” before adding, “socialism has entered the chat.”

Former 2024 GOP presidential candidates chimed in as well.

Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said, “Welcome to socialism,” while Vivek Ramaswamy said, “This is what socialism looks like, folks. The right answer isn’t restrictions or mandates. It’s drilling, fracking, coal, & nuclear. That’s how we’ll roll in Ohio.”

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) suggested the post reflects “the reality of big government socialism’s inability to solve problems.”

“Telling New Yorkers to set their air conditioning at 78 degrees is an open admission of the failure of the left to provide enough inexpensive electricity that people can be comfortable even in hot weather,” he added.

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt (R) said, “Show us your thermostat, commie.”

The backlash comes as Republicans look to capitalize on recent electoral victories by Democratic primary candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) — in New York City and Colorado.

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) pointed to the ouster of longtime Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) by DSA-backed candidate Melat Kiros, writing, “Denver, this is what you just voted for.”

Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also addressed the potential political fallout from Mamdani’s guidance.

“This is the worst campaign ad for the Democrats,” Greene wrote. “Set your air to 78 degrees? Bless your hearts New York City!! American energy should be so strong and plentiful that you never have to set it above 70 if you don’t feel like it. And this comes from the Deep South in Georgia!!”

Mamdani issued another statement Thursday afternoon with similar recommendations after the New York Independent System Operator issued an early energy warning “due to a decline in operating reserves,” adding, “The grid is operating normally at this time and there are adequate resources to meet forecasted demand.”

The warnings come as a potentially record-breaking heat wave blankets much of the Midwestern and Eastern parts of the country, bringing triple-digit temperatures that are expected to last into the long July Fourth weekend.

Mamdani mocked by GOP for telling New Yorkers to set thermostats to 78

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