Democrat Infighting: Hakeem Jeffries Demands Socialist NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani ‘Clarify’ Defense of Genocidal ‘Intifada’ Chant

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) is putting public pressure on socialist NYC Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to clarify his position on the use of the genocidal phrase “globalize the intifada.”

Mamdani has not been shy about his criticism of Israel. In a June 2025 interview on The Bulwark podcast, when asked if the phrase made him uncomfortable, he declined to condemn it. Instead, he argued that it reflects “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights” for Palestinians.

Despite being given ample opportunities to clarify his position, Mandani has refused.

On ABC’s Sunday episode of ‘This Week,’ Jeffries chided Mamdani.

“Globalizing the intifada, by way of example, is not an acceptable phrasing,” Jeffries said.

“He’s going to have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward,” he continued.

“With respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the city of New York, which has been an unacceptable development,” he added.

Watch:

WATCH: House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Zohran Mamdani will “have to clarify his position” in defense of the violent phrase “globalize the intifada” as he “moves forward” in the New York City mayoral race.

Shortly thereafter, Mamdani opted, for the second time, not… pic.twitter.com/7DMLjG3VQx

— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) June 30, 2025

On Sunday, Mamdani joined Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press and had an opportunity to again distance himself from the controversy, but chose not to.

Welker: I’ll give you an opportunity to respond, here and now, do you condemn that phrase, ‘Globalize the Intifada’?

Mamdani: That’s not language that I use. The language that I use and 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.

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.

Welker: But do you actually condemn it? I think that’s the question and the outstanding issue that a number of people, both of the Jewish faith and beyond, have. Do you condemn that phrase, globalize the intifada, which a lot of people hear as a call to violence against Jews?

Mamdani: I’ve heard from many Jewish New Yorkers who have shared their concerns with me, especially in light of the horrific attacks that we saw in Washington, DC, and in Boulder, Colorado, about this moment of anti-Semitism in our country and in our city. I’ve heard those fears, and I’ve had those conversations, and ultimately, they are part and parcel of why, in my campaign, I’ve put forward a commitment to increase funding for anti-hate crime programming by 800%. I don’t believe that the role of the mayor is to police speech in the manner, especially of that of Donald Trump, who has put one New Yorker in jail who’s just returned to his family, Mahmoud Khalil, for that very supposed crime of 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 that there’s no room for anti-Semitism in this 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.

Welker: But quickly, for the people who care about the language and who feel really concerned by that phrase, why not just condemn it?

Mamdani: 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’s not language that I use. It’s 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.

Watch:

.@kwelkernbc to Mamdani:

Do you condemn that phrase, Globalize the Intifada?

But do you actually condemn it..which a lot of people hear as a call to violence against Jews?

For the people who .. feel really concerned by that phrase, why not just condemn it?

Mamdani’s reply pic.twitter.com/eZuhMSEO0c

— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) June 29, 2025

The leading House Dem is urging the New York socialist to explain his refusal to condemn the chant, which has been associated with violent uprisings against Israel.

“Globalizing the intifada, by way of example, is not an acceptable phrasing,” Jeffries (D-NY) told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. The term “intifada” means uprising.

“He’s going to have to clarify his position on that as he moves forward,” the Brooklyn Democrat continued.

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