New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani publicly challenged Amazon executive chairman Jeff Bezos on Wednesday after the billionaire questioned whether raising taxes on the wealthy would benefit working-class New Yorkers. The exchange occurred as Mamdani continues to advocate for policies that would fund city services and address New York’s affordability crisis.

Bezos had stated during a CNBC interview that doubling his taxes would not help “that teacher in Queens,” instead proposing the elimination of federal income taxes for the bottom half of earners. “I don’t think it should be 3%. I think it should be zero,” Bezos remarked, noting that the top 1% of taxpayers currently pay approximately 40% of all tax revenue while the bottom half pay only 3%. Mamdani responded on social media, writing, “I know a few teachers in Queens who would beg to differ.”

The controversy comes amid Mamdani’s support for a proposed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes worth $5 million or more, a policy backed by Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul. While the mayor initially proposed broader property tax increases, the targeted luxury home tax is projected to generate approximately $500 million annually, though the city’s comptroller has warned revenue might be lower at $340 million to $380 million once property owners adjust their behavior. Interestingly, Bezos acknowledged that such a tax “is a fine thing for New York to do,” despite his opposition to general wealth taxation. The exchange highlights the ongoing national debate about tax policy and its impact on different economic classes.