Controversy Surrounds NYC Mayoral Candidate
A former member of Hillary Clinton’s campaign finance team expressed disappointment regarding Fox News host Harris Faulkner’s remarks about New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate, Zoran Mamdani, labeling him as “anti-Semitic.”
Mamdani won the Democratic nomination in the primary held on June 24, coming out ahead of former Governor Andrew Cuomo. In a discussion with Faulkner on “Faulkner Focus,” Al Motter commented on Mamdani’s focus on the city’s living costs, describing him as appearing somewhat naive and having anti-Semitic tendencies. “The pressing political issue is housing costs and he zeros in on that,” Motter shared. He continued, “It would be very sad if he actually won the mayoral race.”
Motter went on to criticize Mamdani’s views on violence, stating, “I don’t think he’s ever experienced it directly. When crime affects your family or when you’re attacked, it’s anything but artificial.” He recalled the unrest from previous summers, noting that some Democrats had advocated for police funding, though it ultimately led nowhere. There’s a lingering concern about going down a similar path again.
During an interview with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” Mamdani sidestepped questions regarding the phrase “globalization of intifadas,” failing to denounce it. He also mentioned intentions to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City, highlighting his support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Former Republican Senate candidate Tiffany Smiley added her thoughts, remarking that Mamdani is pushing extreme ideas: “He believes in abolishing the police, medical bills—essentially everything should be free.” She characterized him as the most extreme Democratic candidate seen in modern history. Smiley noted that many moderate Democrats feel alienated from the current party ideology.
As part of his campaign, Mamdani has proposed increasing taxes in predominantly white neighborhoods in New York, aiming to challenge current Mayor Eric Adams in the future. Faulkner reacted, mentioning how it appears Democrats are favoring the wrong sides in the current debates: “It seems like they want to protect the wolves at the expense of the sheep.”
