New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has found himself at the center of a social media firestorm after urging residents to conserve electricity by setting their air conditioners to 78 degrees during a dangerous heat wave that could push temperatures to 100 degrees for the first time in more than a decade.

With soaring temperatures placing heavy demand on the electrical grid, Mamdani took to X to encourage New Yorkers to reduce their energy usage.

“New York: it’s hot out there, and the power grid is working overtime to keep us cool,” the Muslim socialist mayor wrote in a post on X. “Set your AC to 78 degrees, turn off lights/electronics you’re not using, and unplug what you can.”

The suggestion quickly sparked widespread ridicule, with many users insisting that 78 degrees was far too warm to provide meaningful relief during extreme summer heat.

Among the most prominent critics was Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who has previously floated the idea of challenging Mamdani in a future mayoral election.

“78 degrees??? Welcome to communism people! Hope you enjoy!” Portnoy wrote.

Conservative commentator Bonchie also mocked the mayor’s recommendation, posting, “Do you feel the warmth of collectivism yet?”

Many everyday New Yorkers joined the criticism, with some pledging to do exactly the opposite of what the mayor had requested.

“As a New Yorker I’ll be setting my AC to 62 degrees for the foreseeable future as a direct retaliation to your authority,” one user responded.

Another wrote, “I have texted all my coworkers who voted for Zohran to send me a photo of their A/C set to 78.”

Others questioned why residents should be expected to keep their homes uncomfortably warm while brightly lit landmarks such as Times Square continue consuming enormous amounts of electricity around the clock.

Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers, also weighed in with a tongue-in-cheek response.

“My Mayor is Muslim. My Bagel is Jewish. My Christian Dior. Thermostat set to 74. Or lower,” he wrote, parodying the popular “Knicks in four” slogan. “Only a Communist believes distribution of wealth also means distribution of air conditioning. Send thermostat pics at Gracie and City hall please!!”

In his post, Mamdani said city government would also be reducing electricity consumption by following the same thermostat guidelines and limiting unnecessary energy use in municipal buildings.

“Our City is doing its part too: maintaining the 78 degrees rule in our buildings, dimming/turning off our lights during peak electricity demand, asking private partners to do the same, and powering down non-essential equipment,” he wrote.

He argued that reducing electricity demand would help prevent outages during the heat emergency.

“A stable grid means the AC stays on, and lives are saved. Let’s ease demand — and get through the heat — together.”

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends thermostat settings between 75 and 78 degrees during the summer months and advises homeowners to raise the temperature further when no one is home.

Mamdani is not the first New York City mayor to make such a recommendation. During a heat advisory in July 2023, then-Mayor Eric Adams similarly encouraged residents to set their air conditioners to 78 degrees to reduce strain on the electrical grid.

Forecasters say the most dangerous conditions are expected today and Friday, when AccuWeather predicts temperatures across New York City’s five boroughs could reach 100 degrees.