Palantir CEO Alex Karp has taken aim at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in a viral interview clip, adding to recent tensions between tech leaders and the progressive mayor. The remarks come just days after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos nearly had a public confrontation with Mamdani over tax policies.
Karp's Criticism of Mamdani and Ivy League Graduates
In a clip shared on X (formerly Twitter), Karp discussed Mamdani and his supporters. "I think the average Ivy League grad voting for this mayor is highly annoyed that their education is not that valuable, and the person down the street who knows how to drill for oil and gas, who's moved to Texas, has a more valuable profession. And I think that annoys the f--k out of these people," Karp said.
Call for Democrats to Speak Out
Appearing on "The Axios Show" in November 2025, Karp claimed that many Democrats privately doubt Mamdani's ability to deliver on his ambitious agenda. "The percentage of Democrats who know that nothing Mamdani is saying can ever work is very high," Karp told Axios' Mike Allen. "If you talk to them in private, they'll be like: 'Yeah, that can never work.'" Karp urged his Democratic friends to "grow a spine because a lot of these people actually agree with me in private."
AI Race and Geopolitical Stakes
In the wide-ranging interview, Karp also addressed the global AI competition, stating, "We are going to be the dominant player, or China's gonna be the dominant player. And there will just be very different rules depending on who wins." He expressed concern that the U.S. might fail due to excessive "discussion about human rights that obviously only serves people who, like, somehow wanna live in a world that doesn't work."
Karp on Sleep and Creativity
On a personal note, Karp shared his sleep habits: "I'm primarily a creative human. ... My best work is done if I get eight hours' sleep. I can't always do that 'cause I'm traveling. ... But I really strive for eight hours' quality sleep because what I notice is I just feel better, my brain works better."
