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As New York City voters headed to the polls Tuesday, President Trump implored Jewish New Yorkers not to support the city’s Democratic mayoral nominee, Zohran Mamdani, and attacked those who do as “stupid.”
“Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Tuesday.
Mamdani, who has been an outspoken critic of the state of Israel and its war in Gaza, has faced backlash from some New York Jews, many of whom feel a strong connection to Israel. The debate over Mamdani’s sharp criticism of Israel coincides with surging antisemitic hate crimes in the city.
While the vast majority of Jewish New Yorkers are Democrats, less than a third say they plan to vote for the Democratic nominee in Tuesday’s general election, according to recent polling.
But Mamdani, a Muslim democratic socialist, has sought to win over Jewish New Yorkers since winning the party primary this summer.
He has also faced an onslaught of anti-Muslim attacks, primarily from the political right, with some calling for him to face denaturalization proceedings and be deported. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) suggested he “go back to the Third World,” and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) referred to him as “little muhammad.”
Some have indirectly referenced Mamdani’s religion. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, faced backlash after he invoked the 9/11 attacks in a discussion about Mamdani on WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning” radio show last month.
“Any given morning there’s a crisis, and people’s lives are at stake,” Cuomo said in the radio interview about the front-runner in the race. “God forbid, another 9/11. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?”
“I could. He’d be cheering,” radio host Sid Rosenberg responded.
Cuomo laughed and said, “That’s another problem.”
Mamdani responded at the time, calling Cuomo’s remarks “just disgusting.”
Trump’s warning to Jewish New Yorkers on Tuesday is not the first time the president has suggested Jews who support candidates who are critical of the state of Israel — or who oppose the president — are voting against their own interests.
While running for office in 2024, Trump was asked about Democrats’ criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the war in Gaza.
“I actually think they hate Israel,” Trump responded in the 2024 interview. “I think they hate Israel. And the Democrat party hates Israel.”
“Any Jewish person that votes for Democrats hates their religion. They hate everything about Israel and they should be ashamed of themselves because Israel will be destroyed,” Trump added at the time.
Mamdani’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
