New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani discussed his unexpected mention by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly in September. In a conversation with podcaster Theo Von, Mamdani described the experience as ‘strange.’
Von recalled the incident, asking if Mamdani found it weird or scary. Mamdani recounted, ‘I was having a meeting with the prime minister of the Netherlands at the LGBTQ center in downtown Manhattan. Then I get back from that meeting, and it’s like, ‘Oh, by the way, here’s what he was saying at the U.N.’’
Netanyahu targeted Mamdani in his speech, accusing the mayor of spreading falsehoods about Israel and attempting to keep him from speaking in New York City.
To all those spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of New York, I say this: Shame on you. Shame on you for distorting the facts. Shame on you for inverting victim and aggressor. Shame on you for spitting in the face of truth, Mr. Mamdani.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani promised to have Netanyahu arrested and later called on the federal government to enforce an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant if Netanyahu visited New York City. The ICC issued a warrant in November 2024 for alleged war crimes, which Netanyahu and Israel have strongly denied.
Von asked Mamdani if arresting Netanyahu was a genuine option. Mamdani replied, ‘If I had my say, the U.S. government would have joined the ICC, honored every single warrant that they’ve issued.’
Mamdani explained Netanyahu’s focus on him as an attempt to distract from more pressing responsibilities. Mamdani stated, ‘All of this is an attempt to distract from responsibility, name as many people as possible, try and make it into a back and forth.’ He further emphasized that the issue is not solely between him and Netanyahu but pertains to broader accusations against Netanyahu.
Theo Von, known for interviewing major figures like Trump, noted the curious nature of Netanyahu’s remarks towards Mamdani. Mamdani’s interaction with Von underscores ongoing tensions and discussions around ICC warrants and international disciplinary actions.
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