Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has ripped New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for failing to condemn the “blatantly antisemitic” rhetoric being spewed by his Israel-bashing supporters.
“You have to speak and act with moral clarity, and when supporters of yours say things that are blatantly antisemitic, you can’t leave room for that to just sit there,” Shapiro, a fellow Dem, told the Jewish Insider on Wednesday about the socialist state lawmaker.
“You’ve got to condemn that.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday bashed Zohran Mamdani for failing to condemn the “blatantly antisemitic” rhetoric being spewed by his Israel-bashing supporters. Getty ImagesThe governor took aim at Mamdani after the lefty firebrand, whose shocking mayoral primary win last month has largely divided the party, faced widespread backlash over his anti-Israel commentary.
“He seemed to run a campaign that excited New Yorkers,” Shapiro said.
“He also seemed to run a campaign where he left open far too much space for extremists to either use his words or for him to not condemn the words of extremists that said some blatantly antisemitic things.”
Critics have been tearing into Mamdani of late as they accuse the progressive front-runner of being antisemitic over his backing of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.
Mamdani has faced widespread backlash over his past anti-Israel commentary and initial refusal to condemn the “Globalize the intifada” phrase. James Messerschmidt
The Queens assemblyman has maintained that opposing the Zionist state is not antisemitic and insisted that he’d fight against Jew-hatred as mayor.
Mamdani has also faced widespread backlash for refusing to condemn the “Globalize the intifada” rallying cry seized on by anti-Israel groups.
In the wake of his Democratic primary win, Mamdani has said he now discourages people from using the phrase after meeting with Jewish elected officials.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was among those to rip the mayoral hopeful’s controversial comments on the intifada — arguing that he should emphatically “denounce it” if he wants to rep the Big Apple.
“As a leader of a city as diverse as New York City with 8 million people, as the largest Jewish population in the country, he should denounce it. And that’s it. Period,” Gillibrand, a pro-Israel Democrat, told WNYC last month.
The criticism from Shapiro comes as Mamdani grapples to secure the overall backing of his party.
New York’s top three Dem leaders — Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — have so far refused to say whether they’d endorse the nominee.
