As a major blizzard hit New York City, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani over documentation requirements for emergency snow shovelers, contrasting the policy with the city’s stance on voter identification and immigration enforcement.

Gutfeld began by referencing the storm and the mayor’s hiring push.

"So as a massive blizzard pelts New York, Zohran Mamdani is hiring emergency shovelers to help clear streets," Gutfeld said.

He added, "the storm is named Hernando, so don't be surprised when he introduces his 28 nieces and nephews."

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He then focused on the identification requirements.

"Yes, but there's one small detail," Gutfeld said. "the mayor is asking you to do something the left finds incredibly racist. Show your papers."

He continued, "Yeah, the man who once called ICE Nazis for checking papers is asking to see yours to combat a different sort of ice."

Mayor Mamdani encouraged residents to apply for the program and outlined what was required.

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"For those who want to do more to help your neighbors and earn some extra cash," Mamdani said, "you too can become an emergency snow shoveler."

He instructed applicants to "show up at your local sanitation garage between 8 am and 1 pm tomorrow with your paperwork."

He noted that the paperwork "is accessible online at nyc.gov/snow" and said "you can get started right away."

Gutfeld returned to the documentation requirements.

"Paperwork from a Democratic socialist," he said, calling it "the same crowd who would call you a Gestapo agent if you thought voter ID was a good thing."

He argued, "So the guy who expects paperwork from snow shovelers thinks the same demand for minorities is too heavy a hardship."

He then questioned the number of identification documents required. "But to handle a shovel, you need to show five different IDs, five," Gutfeld said.

"Who the hell has five IDs besides serial killers?"

He added, "I mean, who doesn't love a good memento, right?"

Referring to the payment, Gutfeld said, "to shovel snow, the mayor is asking for two small photos, two forms of ID and a social security card."

He noted the initial rate was "$19 an hour" and later said the mayor was "now asking for just two forms of ID and raise the pay to $30 an hour."

He questioned the strictness of the process, saying, "Still, why the airtight security?" and added, "You're shoveling snow, not guarding Sidney Sweeney's underwear drawer."

President Donald Trump also commented on the situation.

"You know the mayor of New York, and he's a very nice person," Trump said.

"I met him, but his ideology is not too good." Referring to the storm, Trump said, "we're having a massive snow storm right now," and added, "I've heard that he's asked people to come out and help shovel the snow."

He concluded, "Okay, so you get a shovel and you start shoveling."

Gutfeld compared the documentation policy to voter ID laws.

"Right? Exactly, anyone can do it," he said.

"So you don't need an ID to vote in New York, but you need a stack of papers to move frozen dog pee." He added, "But when confronted with that hypocrisy, Zohran suddenly started to sound like a Republican."

Mamdani defended the requirements as part of an established program.

"This is a long standing program and long standing requirements," Mamdani said.

He explained, "this is a way that New Yorkers are get paid to shovel snow in assistance with the city's response to a winter storm event."

He added, "Federal law requires that employers get authorization and documentation to pay people for their work." He concluded, "We are not allowed to just cut checks to individuals for their work."

Gutfeld argued the mayor’s stance conflicted with other policies.

"But now he cares about law," Gutfeld said. He added, "Funny, when millions cross into the country illegally, federal law didn't matter."

He claimed, "It was racist," and argued that the current rules "impact the very illegals he calls essential."

He also referenced the mayor’s handling of homeless encampments during a previous storm, saying, "We already saw how the mayor handled last month's nor'easter."

He stated, "up to 19 homeless froze to death after he stopped police from tearing down encampments."

He added that the mayor later "started quietly clearing the encampments again."

CNN host Fareed Zakaria also weighed in on New York’s budget under Mamdani.

"Zohran Mamdani ran on a promise to make New York affordable," Zakaria said.

He continued, "Last week, he unveiled a budget that is in a word, unaffordable." Zakaria added, "New York is really a prime example of a problem Democrats seem unwilling to confront." He concluded, "Blue cities are out of control, promising more, spending more, delivering less."

Gutfeld ended by tying the storm controversy to broader policy concerns.

"If you had said that a year ago, CNN would have called you every name in the book," he said.

He added, "This two foot Blizzard is just the latest proof," and concluded, "they're learning that the real disaster isn't the blizzard at all, but the guy asking you to clean it up."

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