Fox News’ Jessica Tarlov came to the defense of billionaires in New York City and explained why “really rich dudes” are an integral part of the community.
on Thursday’s edition of “The Five.” Tarlov and her Fox News colleagues discussed wealthy inhabitants of major cities and the recent backlash against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) after a video jabbing billionaire Ken Griffin’s $238 million penthouse.
“Citadel has 2,500 employees. Guess how many dollars they’ve committed to New York City? $2.3 billion in taxes have been paid to New York City because of Citadel. That is Ken Griffin’s company,” co-host Kayleigh McEnany pointed out during the topic discussion.
Later, Tarlov contended that cities like New York need billionaires, and what they contribute culturally must be preserved.
“On the philanthropic front, everything that is great– I don’t want to say everything that is great about New York, but when you go to any amazing cultural institution, there is a billionaire’s name on the wall,” she noted.
“Every hospital. I mean, we lead the world in medicine and medical treatments. And Tish, Langone, all of it, those are really rich dudes who love it here and wanted to give back to those communities. We have to preserve that,” the liberal co-host added.
Tarlov went on to note that while wealthy New Yorkers should expect to be taxed, the higher amounts are “excessive.”
“Doesn’t mean you can’t pay your fair share and blah, blah, blah,” she said. “But X beyond the fair share is excessive.”
Mamdani announced the new pieds-à-terre tax in a video message last month that raised eyebrows and earned the socialist mayor immediate rebukes.
“When I ran for mayor, I said I was going to tax the rich,” Mamdani said in the video. “Well, today, we’re taxing the rich.”
“This is an annual fee on luxury properties worth more than $5 million whose owners do not live full-time in the city,” the mayor said, standing outside of Griffin’s penthouse. “Like for this penthouse, which hedge-fund CEO Ken Griffin bought for $238 million.”
NYC’s Mamdani may have crossed a line with billionaire businessman who already bailed from Chicago https://t.co/5uPpwiuEQn via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) April 24, 2026
“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance!” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social after the mayor’s announcement.
“The United States of America should not contribute to its failure. It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG,” he wrote. “People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS “STUFF” JUST DOESN’T WORK. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT.”
