Shortly after his January 1 inauguration, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani drew criticism from Jewish civil rights groups following the removal of several posts related to combating antisemitism from the official @NYCMayor account on X.
The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC), a nonprofit organization focused on addressing antisemitism in the United States, accused the 34-year-old Democrat of deleting posts published by his predecessor, Eric Adams, on December 31. The group described the move as one of Mamdani’s “very first acts” as mayor.
In a letter addressed to Mamdani, NJAC said the removal of posts praising Adams’ efforts to combat antisemitism in the city “is not merely tone-deaf, it is shameful.”
A spokesperson for the mayor told the New York Post that Mamdani’s team has been archiving social media posts from the previous administration “in chronological order,” characterizing the process as routine rather than selective.
Why It Matters
Debate over Israel and its war in Gaza—launched after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks—has become increasingly polarized in the United States, a longstanding ally of Israel. The issue has heightened tensions around antisemitism and political speech, particularly in large, diverse cities like New York.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani was frequently criticized by political opponents for his outspoken criticism of Israel and his support for Palestinian causes. Conservatives argued that his views could threaten the sense of security felt by New York City’s Jewish community.
Public opinion, however, has shifted amid the prolonged conflict. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began. A Gallup survey found that American sympathy for Israel fell below 50 percent in 2025 for the first time in nearly 25 years.
At the same time, concerns about antisemitism in the U.S. have intensified. Gallup data shows that the share of Americans who say they are satisfied with how Jewish people are treated dropped from about 50 percent in 2021 to 42 percent in 2025. Separately, an American Jewish Committee survey conducted in late 2024 found that roughly nine in ten Jewish Americans believed antisemitism had increased over the previous five years and since the October 7 attacks.
What To Know
Mamdani, who became New York City’s first Muslim mayor on January 1, assumed control of the official mayoral X account after Adams’ administration relinquished access on December 31.
On that final day, Adams published a series of three posts highlighting the city’s “first-ever municipal report” on combating antisemitism. Two of those posts were later removed, while the third remains visible.
The remaining post reads: “This administration put the tools into place to protect Jewish New Yorkers and fight hate. We’re calling on every elected official to do the same.” It includes a link to a report detailing the Adams administration’s efforts to combat antisemitism.
NJAC argues that deleting the posts could violate the city charter, which treats social media posts as public records. In its letter, the organization said the removals raise “serious concern” and undermine public confidence.
NJAC Director Mark Goldfeder said on X that the letter was also sent to the city’s Department of Investigation commissioner and the executive director of the Conflicts of Interest Board.
Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec said the deletions were not content-driven but administrative. NJAC countered that even if the posts were archived, “the choice to delete statements specifically addressing Jewish safety on Day One invites scrutiny and erodes public trust.”
What People Are Saying
In its letter, NJAC wrote: “It is difficult to overstate how disturbing it is that one of your very first acts as Mayor of New York City, on your very first day in office, was to delete official @NYCMayor tweets addressing the protection of Jewish New Yorkers.
“At a moment of unprecedented antisemitic intimidation, violence, and exclusion in the City, the decision to erase official statements affirming the safety and protection of Jews is not merely tone-deaf, it is shameful. It sends a message, whether intended or not, that Jewish New Yorkers are uniquely undeserving of continuity, clarity, or reassurance from their own government.”
Pekec reiterated in a statement reported by the New York Post that the archiving process is standard and not based on content. She added that the mayor “remains steadfast in his commitment to root out the scourge of antisemitism” and plans to renew the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism while increasing funding for the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes by 800 percent.
What Happens Next
Mamdani has pledged to govern on behalf of all New Yorkers, including the city’s large Jewish population. On January 1, he announced that he would retain the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, which was established under the previous administration.
“That is an issue that we take very seriously,” Mamdani said, adding that the city is committed not only to protecting Jewish New Yorkers but also to celebrating the community.
That same day, Mamdani revoked all executive orders issued by the prior administration, including the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism—a decision that has drawn criticism from some conservative Jewish advocates.
The controversy has also spilled onto social media, where debate over Mamdani’s views on Israel has coincided with a rise in anti-Muslim rhetoric. Goldfeder’s post sharing NJAC’s letter prompted some responses accusing Mamdani of harboring violent intentions toward Jews based on his faith, including posts invoking imagery from the September 11 attacks.
