Zohran Mamdani, the New York City Council member and now a progressive mayoral candidate, has started changing his tune about a highly controversial phrase that’s been tied to pro-Palestine rallies—“Globalize the Intifada.” After months of resisting calls to denounce it, Mamdani told a room full of business leaders earlier this week that he no longer supports using the slogan and even said he’d discourage others from doing so.
But let’s rewind. This wasn't just a casual offhand remark. It happened during a private meeting hosted by the Partnership for New York City, inside the Rockefeller Center offices of Tishman Speyer. According to The New York Times, Mamdani shared that a recent conversation with a Jewish woman who was deeply triggered by the slogan profoundly shifted his perspective. Her emotional recounting of traumatic experiences apparently made Mamdani reconsider the implications of that phrase.
The timing of this pivot is…interesting.
Why now? Why suddenly backtrack?
Well, the slogan itself—"Globalize the Intifada"—has been heavily criticized by Jewish groups and centrist Democrats alike. The American Jewish Committee interprets the phrase as a global call to rise up against Israel, a message they deem violent and extreme. Mamdani’s refusal to previously condemn the phrase, even when asked point-blank on The Bulwark podcast by Tim Miller, had raised serious eyebrows. Back then, he argued that policing speech wasn't productive, choosing not to call out the slogan explicitly.
It didn’t help that during those earlier interviews, he sidestepped the core issue, preferring to pivot toward free speech arguments. But the political heat clearly caught up.
On the national level, though, reactions have been muted—if not completely absent. Just a day after Mamdani’s closed-door remarks in NYC, another meeting took place in Washington, D.C. This one, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, was supposed to be about how to run a winning digital campaign. And although Mamdani was present, the now-infamous slogan didn't even make the discussion.
When asked whether Mamdani’s remarks in New York came up in the D.C. gathering, Ocasio-Cortez flatly said, “No, that did not come up.”
That silence didn’t go unnoticed.
Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan seemed caught off guard by the omission, admitting to Fox News that Mamdani “didn’t even talk about” the phrase during the breakfast. “I'll have that discussion with him later,” she added. But she also offered a nuanced take, highlighting that many people deeply care about Israel but also can’t ignore the suffering of children in Gaza.
Some lawmakers tried to steer clear of the controversy altogether. Reps. André Carson and Jerry Nadler both confirmed the slogan didn’t get any airtime at the breakfast. But that hasn't stopped the phrase from continuing to fuel tensions within the Democratic party.
Back in New York, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who’s also gunning for the mayoral seat, wasted no time going on offense. Cuomo, who has long cultivated ties with Jewish communities in the city, called Mamdani’s initial refusal to condemn the slogan “not only wrong—it’s dangerous.” He made it very clear: “There are no two sides here.”
In typical Cuomo fashion, he turned the moment into a rallying cry for more moderate Democrats.
Yet, despite the political firestorm, Mamdani still seems to be attracting support from some high-profile Democrats. At the same D.C. meeting where the slogan was sidestepped, Ocasio-Cortez praised Mamdani for his savvy campaign strategies and his insights on digital organizing.
“He helped us level up our game,” AOC said, referring to his tips shared during what was billed as the “Communication and Organizing Skillshare Breakfast.”
Still, endorsements remain a mixed bag.
Even though Rep. Adriano Espaillat publicly backed Cuomo in the mayoral primary, others in the party appear cautiously curious about Mamdani. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are both expected to meet with him in New York later this week, though neither has issued a formal endorsement—yet.
In a media landscape that thrives on viral soundbites, Mamdani’s decision to revise his stance may seem strategic. But for some voters, the about-face raises bigger questions: Is this evolution or simple political damage control?
Mamdani’s campaign hasn’t issued any further comment, despite requests from Fox News Digital. But Ocasio-Cortez is sticking by him. She urged skeptics to take a deeper look, saying, “Get to know him before you make assessments from what you see on television.” She also praised her colleagues for coming into the meeting “in good faith” and giving Mamdani space to be heard.
Let’s not forget—Mamdani is a self-described Democratic Socialist. He’s part of the new generation of politicians trying to push the party leftward, especially on issues related to foreign policy and justice for marginalized groups. His involvement in the city’s rent control battles and support for defunding police initiatives already made him a polarizing figure. This slogan controversy just added more fuel to that fire.
Still, politics is about momentum. Mamdani is clearly trying to reframe the conversation around his campaign’s broader vision for affordability, digital outreach, and inclusive governance. In his D.C. remarks, he was all about building stronger digital strategies—not defending provocative slogans.
But that may not be enough.
For voters, especially those in the Jewish community, the damage might already be done. Emotional wounds run deep, and slogans like “Globalize the Intifada”—whether used in solidarity or provocation—have consequences far beyond campus protests or campaign rallies.
As Mamdani attempts to rebrand and move forward, the big question looms: Can he rebuild trust across the aisle, or has the political fallout already solidified doubts about his leadership?
This mayoral race is no longer just about rent prices or subway delays—it’s about values, language, and where the line is drawn between free speech and incitement. Mamdani’s journey—from defiant to reflective—might say more about the shifting dynamics in the Democratic Party than any campaign ad could.
Stay tuned. This story isn’t going away anytime soon.
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