Latest news with #globalizetheintifada
Fox News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Mamdani called out by MSNBC guest for refusing to condemn 'globalize the intifada' phrase
Podcast host Donny Deutsch called out Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic New York City mayoral candidate, on Monday for refusing to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" during an appearance on MSNBC. "I'm outraged that we have a candidate for mayor of New York, Mr. Mamdani, that cannot walk back or cannot condemn the words 'globalize the intifada' and his nuance of, 'well, it means different things for different people.' Well, let me tell you what it means to a Jew — it means violence," Deutsch said, citing the October 7 terrorist attacks, as well as the Boulder, Colorado attacks. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, defeated establishment candidate and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary last week. "That's the connotation, that's the essence of it, and that's what it means to Jewish people. And if any other group came forward and said 'you know these words are offense to us, it means violence, it frightens us,' I think there would be a response, but for some reason, if Jewish people find it offensive, it's not offensive," Deutsch continued. The podcast host said it was offensive to him and accused Mandami of running a "campaign of divisiveness." "He also came out in the last two days and said, 'we're going to tax rich, White neighborhoods.' Why do you have to put White in there? Just say, we're going to tax the wealthy. I just find that offensive. I find it offensive that in the past he's talked about defunding the police. I think he's walked that back," Deutsch said. Mamdani had several opportunities to condemn the "globalize the intifada" phrase during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "That's not language that I use. The language that I use, the language that I will continue to use to lead this city, is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights," Mamdani told NBC's Kristen Welker. "And ultimately, that's what is the foundation of so much of my politics, the belief that freedom and justice and safety are things that, to have meaning, have to be applied to all people and that includes Israelis and Palestinians alike." Welker asked two more times about why he wouldn't condemn the phrase if it concerned Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani argued, "I don't believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech." "My concern is, to start to walk down the line of language and making clear what language I believe is permissible or impermissible, takes me into a place similar to that of the president, who is looking to do those very kinds of things, putting people in jail for writing an op-ed, putting them in jail for protesting. Ultimately, it is not language that I use. It is language I understand there are concerns about, and what I will do is showcase my vision for the city through my words and my actions," Mamdani added. Mamdani's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Zohran Mamdani repeatedly pressed on whether he condemns 'globalize the intifada' term in NBC interview
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was repeatedly pressed by NBC News host Kristen Welker on Sunday about why he doesn't want to condemn the phrase, "globalize the intifada," insisting that he didn't want to "police language." "I want to ask you about an issue that has divided New Yorkers in recent weeks. You were recently asked about the term 'globalize the intifada,' if it makes you uncomfortable. In that moment, you did not condemn the phrase. Now, just so folks understand, it is a phrase that many people hear as a call to violence against Jews," Welker said. "So I want to give you the opportunity to respond here and now, do you condemn that phrase, 'globalize the intifada?'" Mandami, a Democratic socialist, defeated former New York governor Andrew Cuomo in the mayoral primary last week. "That's not language that I use. The language that I use, the language that I will continue to use to lead this city, is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights," Mamdani responded. "And ultimately, that's what is the foundation of so much of my politics, the belief that freedom and justice and safety are things that, to have meaning, have to be applied to all people and that includes Israelis and Palestinians alike." Welker asked Mamdani once again if he condemned the phrase. Mamdani said he had spoken to several Jewish New Yorkers regarding their concerns about antisemitism and added, "I don't believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech." "Ultimately, what I think I need to show is the ability to not only talk about something but to tackle it and to make clear there is no room for antisemitism in the city. We have to root out that bigotry and, ultimately, we do that through the actions, and that is the mayor I will be, one that protects Jewish New Yorkers and lives up to that commitment through the work that I do," he continued. Welker asked again why he wouldn't just "condemn" the phrase, citing those who care about the language and feel concerned over the phrase. "My concern is, to start to walk down the line of language and making clear what language I believe is permissible or impermissible, takes me into a place similar to that of the president, who is looking to do those very kinds of things, putting people in jail for writing an op-ed, putting them in jail for protesting. Ultimately, it is not language that I use. It is language I understand there are concerns about, and what I will do is showcase my vision for the city through my words and my actions," Mamdani said. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., called on Mamdani to denounce the phrase on Thursday during a heated exchange with WNYC radio host Brian Lehrer. During an interview with Stephen Colbert ahead of the primary, Mamdani was also pressed on antisemitism in New York. "Does the State of Israel have the right to exist?" Colbert asked the 33-year-old Democratic socialist. "Yes," Mamdani responded. "Like all nations, I believe it has the right to exist and a responsibility also to uphold international law."
