Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, notorious for anti-Israel rhetoric and refusal to condemn Hamas slogans, blasted Trump’s efforts to shape the NYC race—while Governor Kathy Hochul’s shocking endorsement raises alarm in the Jewish community.
Hours after Mayor Eric Adams dropped out of the New York City mayoral race amid pressure to consolidate opposition, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani declared that “Donald Trump and his billionaire donors will not dictate this election.”
In an MSNBC interview Sunday, Mamdani insisted his campaign remains unchanged: “Donald Trump and his billionaire donors may be able to determine the actions of Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo, but they will not dictate the results of this election.”
Adams’ withdrawal reportedly followed discussions with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff about a possible role in the Trump administration—an effort widely seen as clearing the way for former Governor Andrew Cuomo to challenge Mamdani’s radical candidacy.
Mamdani, however, has built his platform on anti-Israel extremism:
- He refused to condemn the antisemitic slogan “globalize the intifada.”
- On October 8, 2023—one day after Hamas massacred over 1,200 Israelis—he attacked Israel instead of condemning terror.
- He vowed to abandon the IHRA definition of antisemitism, the global gold standard.
- He even threatened to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York City.
Despite this record, Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Mamdani last week, insisting she discussed with him “the need to combat the rise of antisemitism.” Hochul claimed she was reassured by Mamdani’s outreach to Jewish leaders—though critics warn this amounts to political cover for a man who has openly sided against Israel.
For Jewish New Yorkers, Mamdani’s rise signals a grave threat: a candidate who aligns with pro-Hamas rhetoric, undermines Holocaust remembrance protections, and would turn City Hall into a platform for delegitimizing the Jewish state.
With Adams out and Cuomo and Sliwa still in the race, the fight to stop Mamdani has become the defining battle for New York City’s future.
