Fact Check: "Michael Bloomberg donated $5 million to stop Mamdani's rise."
What We Know
The claim that Michael Bloomberg donated $5 million to stop Mamdani's rise is not supported by any credible evidence. In fact, Bloomberg recently announced a donation of $5 million to support the establishment of the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine in New Orleans, which is a new historically Black medical school. This initiative is part of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Greenwood Initiative, aimed at addressing systemic underinvestment in Black institutions and communities (Bloomberg Philanthropies makes founding gift to ...). The funding is intended to help increase the number of Black physicians and address health disparities, rather than to undermine any political candidate or figure.
Analysis
The assertion that Bloomberg's donation was aimed at stopping Mamdani appears to be a misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the facts. The donation was explicitly directed towards the creation of a medical school, which aligns with Bloomberg's philanthropic goals of improving healthcare access and equity for Black communities (Bloomberg Philanthropies makes founding gift to ...).
There is no evidence in the provided sources that links Bloomberg's financial contributions to any political maneuvering against Mamdani. In fact, the sources discussing Bloomberg's donations focus on his support for educational and healthcare initiatives, which are generally seen as positive contributions to society (Bloomberg Gives $5 Million to Pro-Cuomo Super PAC ..., Bloomberg pours more cash into Cuomo super PAC ...).
Furthermore, the context of Mamdani's political activities does not suggest that Bloomberg's donation was intended to counteract his influence. The claim lacks credible sourcing and appears to be speculative at best.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that Michael Bloomberg donated $5 million to stop Mamdani's rise is unfounded and misleading. The donation was made to support the establishment of a medical school aimed at increasing healthcare equity, not to undermine Mamdani or any political figure. The evidence clearly indicates that Bloomberg's philanthropic efforts are focused on addressing systemic issues in healthcare and education rather than engaging in political sabotage.
