‘Evil Anti-Semite!’ Mamdani Ignites MAGA Firestorm – and Draws Liberal Praise – With New Netanyahu Arrest Demand

(Screengrab via X)

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani triggered a political firestorm on Tuesday after urging the federal government to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the United States, drawing fierce condemnation from allies of President Donald Trump while earning praise from some voices on the left.

In a video posted to social media, Mamdani said his administration had explored whether New York City could enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu, but concluded it lacked the legal authority to do so.

“My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the international criminal court’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here,” Mamdani said. “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.”

He added: “The federal government, however, does – and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.” Mamdani also declared: “Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City, nor is any other war criminal at large.”

The mayor described Netanyahu as “a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people” and reiterated that he believes the Israeli leader “belongs in The Hague,” where the ICC is based.

Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister in 2024 over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The U.S., however, does not recognize the court’s jurisdiction and is not a party to the Rome Statute.

Still, Mamdani’s comments quickly prompted a wave of criticism from leading Trump allies.

In response to the video, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, trashed Mamdani as “an evil anti-semite”:

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) also criticized the mayor:

MAGA activist Laura Loomer called on Trump to “ban Muslims from holding office in America”:

Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon declared “ENOUGH” – and accused the mayor of pushing “blood libels”:

Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) called Mamdani a “Muslim terrorist”:

Other GOP lawmakers and pundits also expressed outrage:

Mamdani’s statements, however, were praised by some liberal commentators, including Zeteo’s Mehdi Hasan and CNN’s regular left-wing pundit Adam Mockler:

Trump, for his part, insisted earlier this week that Netanyahu “will not be arrested” if he visits the U.S. The president argued on Truth Social that the Israeli leader was “fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and said, “the only ones that should be arrested are the people that led Iran into this unprecedented spiral of death and destruction.”

Netanyahu also said he was “not concerned” by the prospect of arrest.

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