New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has pushed back against criticism from billionaire Elon Musk following the appointment of Lillian Bonsignore as chief of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY). Mamdani announced at a press conference that Bonsignore, a 56-year-old decorated first responder and out lesbian, would assume the role upon his inauguration on January 1. Reacting to the appointment on social media, Musk claimed that “people will die because of this,” adding, “Proven experience matters when lives are at stake.”
Mamdani rejected Musk’s remarks, stressing that Bonsignore’s record justified the appointment. Responding directly on X, he wrote, “Experience does matter, which is why I appointed the person who spent more than 30 years at EMS. You know, the workforce that addresses at least 70% of all calls coming into FDNY?” Bonsignore joined the FDNY in 1991, served for more than three decades, led the EMS division from 2019, and was a first responder during the September 11 attacks as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. Her appointment makes her the second woman and first openly gay person to serve as FDNY chief.