AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
It’s been nearly two weeks since UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot and killed in midtown Manhattan. Thankfully, his alleged killer, Luigi Mangione, 26, was captured after someone recognized him at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pa.
While the evidence all appears to confirm Mangione is the killer, in a lot of ways, it just doesn’t make sense why this kid, who grew up privileged and went to an Ivy League school and everything, would be driven to murder.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has something to say on that issue that the Democrats won’t be happy about. Adams bluntly described a disturbing trend he’s witnessed among young people in America. Speaking candidly about the radicalization of youth, he addressed the troubling case of Mangione, drawing a direct line between the shooter’s upbringing and the toxic influence of the education system that led to his violent actions.
Adams was quick to point out that Mangione’s background doesn’t fit the typical profile of someone prone to radicalization. “Ivy League, grew up in an affluent household,” he said, emphasizing the disconnect between the shooter’s privileged life and his eventual descent into hatred.
“His manifesto clearly is showing some signs of hating,” Adams continued, underscoring that even those with seemingly ideal circumstances can be consumed by a dangerous ideology.
The mayor then turned his focus to the broader problem at hand: the radicalization of America’s youth. “Our children are being radicalized,” Adams stated, “I said this over and over again, and everybody’s like, you know, ‘What are you talking about, Eric?’” His frustration with the lack of attention to the issue was clear, but his message was undeniable. This isn’t just a fringe problem; it’s becoming a mainstream crisis.
Adams explained how young people, even those with every opportunity, are being led to despise the country that gave them so much. “Our children are being radicalized to hate America, to hate the country that put them where they are,” he said.
Despite growing up with privileges that many would envy, Mangione’s hatred for everything that made his life possible led to a devastating outcome. “This person had all that one wants to have, but he hated everything to the point of shooting someone,” Adams said.
I can’t begin to tell you how refreshing it is to hear him say this. This is what conservatives have been saying for a long time now. It’s not just the young people who have been radicalized. We’ve seen adults on the left who have been sympathetic to Mangione, suggesting he was justified.
But Adams didn’t stop there. He warned that society is ignoring the signs of radicalization, with far-reaching consequences. “We better deal with the radicalization of our young people,” he urged. “And people could. They could complain that I’m saying it, but I’m seeing it.”
His concern goes beyond just one tragic event. Adams sees a larger cultural shift where young people are being taught to reject the very values that have allowed them to succeed. And it’s the same one conservatives have been warning about for years.
And then he admitted where it’s coming from.
“I'm seeing our bench is hating the team,” he said. "And we better start acknowledging and focusing on that.”
Adams’ words are a wake-up call to those who have long ignored the radicalization of the younger generation. His unflinching honesty brings a much-needed spotlight to the problem, one that the left often dismisses or downplays. The mayor’s message is clear: the radicalization of young Americans is real, and if we don’t start confronting it head-on, we will continue to see more tragic and senseless violence. Bravo to him for speaking the truth!
