Kari Lake Condemns NYC Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s Fire Department Appointment

Kari Lake, acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, criticized New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s decision to appoint Lillian Bonsignore as head of the city fire department on Monday.

Lake argued that the selection raises serious questions about merit-based leadership, emphasizing that professional qualifications—not personal identity—should determine who runs crucial public safety agencies. She noted Bonsignore previously oversaw emergency medical services operations at the FDNY but has no firefighting experience and would become the first openly gay person to lead the department.

“They want to check the box,” Lake stated.

Lake claimed many Americans are frustrated by what she described as an overemphasis on identity politics rather than competence and experience. “Frankly, I don’t care who you’re sleeping with,” she said. “I just don’t want to hear about it. And that goes for whether you’re straight or gay.”

She added that many Americans, including gay Americans, are tired of being defined by sexual orientation rather than professional ability. “I’ve got many friends who happen to be gay,” she explained. “They’re tired of it. They’re tired of just being defined by that.”

The appointment has drawn attention because FDNY commissioners have traditionally risen through the ranks of firefighting leadership. Although emergency medical services play a vital role in the department, operational firefighting experience has historically been viewed as central to managing the nation’s largest fire department.

Lake described the decision as not aligning with common-sense leadership standards. “The fact that she’s not a firefighter,” she said, “it just doesn’t make much sense.” She stressed public trust depends on hiring leaders based on demonstrated expertise and performance rather than personal characteristics: “Let’s define people by the content of their character, what they do, how they help, how they make improvements and bring improvements to this world rather than what’s going on in their private life in their bedroom.”

Host Rob Schmitt noted that questions would likely be different if Bonsignore did not carry the historic distinction of being the first openly gay commissioner, prompting speculation about whether she would have received the job otherwise. Lake broadened her criticism to a wider cultural trend: “God forbid, in this world, a straight, white male,” she said. “My God, I mean, goodness gracious, they’ve been demonized.”

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has defended his transition team’s appointments as reflective of his vision for inclusive leadership as he prepares to take office.