New York City socialist Zohran Mamdani has once again sparked outrage by defending the slogan globalize the intifada during a meeting with top business leaders. When asked by Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla—whose parents survived the Holocaust—whether he supported the anti-Semitic chant, Mamdani admitted he stands by “the idea” behind the incendiary phrase, though he will discourage the words themselves.
The event, hosted by Partnership for New York City, drew boycotts from major financiers such as JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, Blackstone’s Steve Schwarzman, Bank of America’s Brian Moynihan, BlackRock’s Larry Fink, and Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon. Pressure mounted when the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum labeled Mamdani’s defense of globalize the intifada “outrageous and especially offensive to survivors,” reminding that “since 1987 Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner.”
He emphasized shifting positions on past social media posts, urging leaders not to “hold his old posts against him.” Yet his refusal to affirm Israel’s right to exist and endorsement of the pro-BDS movement intensified concern among mainstream Democrats like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who said the slogan is “not an acceptable phrasing” and called on Mamdani to clarify his stance.
Despite CEO walkouts, Mamdani found refuge at a DNC breakfast hosted by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, earning praise from House Democrats—some even rallying behind his mayoral bid.
But with antisemitic slogans as part of his platform, New Yorkers must ask: what other toxic ideas are hiding behind his campaign’s rhetoric?
