New York City’s radical Democrat mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing mounting backlash after a resurfaced video showed him smearing the NYPD.
During a 2023 socialist conference, Mamdani falsely claimed that NYC’s police officers are acting under the orders of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Critics have denounced the remark as anti-Semitic, divisive, and disrespectful to the city’s police officers.
“We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF,” Mamdani said while speaking on a panel during the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) 2023 national convention.
The clip, which went viral this week, has reignited criticism over Mamdani’s past statements about law enforcement.
The far-left socialist candidate has previously called for defunding the NYPD.
He has labeled the city’s department “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety.”
Amid the backlash, Mamdani appeared on Fox News to issue an apology for his earlier remarks about police.
However, the newly unearthed clip has put him back under scrutiny.
During the 2023 DSA panel, Mamdani prefaced his now-viral comments by discussing the link between local and international issues:
“Sorry, I just wanted to – before we get to the next questions – I just wanted to address a couple of the questions,” Mamdani said.
“In the first question, there was this setting up of a context where this idea of hyper-local and international – and I think that for anyone to care about these issues, we have to make them hyper-local, we have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.”
WATCH:
Mamdani Responds
Speaking to reporters Tuesday evening in Hell’s Kitchen, Mamdani addressed the controversy directly.
“You know, I’ve said time and again that with public safety, I’m looking forward to working with police officers here in New York City to deliver it,” Mamdani said.
“I’m looking forward to ensuring that we actually tackle the retention crisis at hand, where we now have about 350 officers leaving the department every month.
“And that is something we will bring to an end by ensuring that police officers are only asked to do the work of a police department, not the work of social services, as they have.”
When pressed about whether he supports keeping the NYPD’s liaison office in Israel, Mamdani replied that his “focus” was on the NYPD’s work “in New York, not overseas.”
Backlash Across the Political Spectrum
The comments ignited strong reactions from both conservatives and liberals online after the clip was reposted to X.
“This guy is truly awful,” wrote Outkick.com founder Clay Travis.
“People are rightly pointing out that this is textbook antisemitism (all your problems are caused by Jews!), but my question is, when Mamdani issued his blanket apology to the NYPD, did that apology extend to the people who laced their boots?! Inquiring minds want to know!” NewsNation host Batya Ungar-Sargon said.
“There is a word for this kind of twisted fear-mongering and conspiratorial thinking: antisemitism,” Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, warned.
“Sick. Zohran Mamdani smeared Israel and the NYPD in one breath, claiming the ‘boot on your neck is laced by the IDF,’” Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) posted on X.
“This is antisemitic, divisive, & dangerous.”
Policing Proposals Draw Additional Criticism
Beyond his comments about Israel and policing, Mamdani’s public safety proposals have drawn concern from law enforcement veterans.
He has long advocated for replacing certain police duties with social workers or “transit ambassadors” to handle select 911 calls.
He argues that this policy would ease the NYPD’s workload and improve retention.
Mamdani first introduced the idea in 2020 and reiterated it during a mayoral debate earlier this month.
He said dispatchers should “make the determination on whether there was any indication of violence” before deploying police officers.
Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor of criminal justice at Penn State Lehigh Valley, called the plan dangerous.
“I don’t have a clue what he’s talking about and neither does he,” Giacalone said.
“My question is, what happens when the dispatcher is wrong and someone dies? Is it an oops?
“The liability the city would be taking on with this idea will be off the charts.”
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running against Mamdani in the mayoral election, condemned his opponent’s rhetoric and approach to policing.
“You can’t be a divisive leader in this city,” Cuomo said at a campaign event.
“You have to be united.
“Because all day long in this city, people are bumping into each other, and one of the main responsibilities you learn inherently as a governor, a mayor, or an executive, is that you have to constantly be working to keep people together because they will separate and fight naturally.
“You’re the force that’s pulling them together.”
Cuomo added that Mamdani has been “divisive across the board” and faulted him for “call[ing] the NYPD racist.”
The controversy adds another challenge for Mamdani’s campaign as he faces mounting scrutiny over his past statements and far-left policy proposals, even as he continues to attract backing from progressive activists and the Democratic Socialists of America.
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