Zohran Mamdani says he would 'discourage' phrase 'globalize the intifada' but not 'the idea behind it': report

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, told a room of more than 100 of the city’s most powerful business leaders on Tuesday that he would discourage the use of the slogan “globalize the intifada,” but not the idea behind it.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the comments came during an approximately hour-long event hosted by the Partnership for New York City, a prominent business coalition representing the city’s top banks, law firms, and corporations. Mamdani, a 33-year-old Democratic Socialist and state assemblymember from Queens, used the opportunity to address backlash over antisemitic rhetoric.

Among the most pointed moments came when Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, whose parents are Holocaust survivors, pressed Mamdani on the phrase that calls for an armed uprising against the Jewish people. During the 2000 Intifada, Palestinian terrorists killed over 1,000 Israeli civilians, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Mamdani claimed that for him, the slogan reflects protest against what he called the Israeli occupation of Gaza, not an endorsement of violence. He added that while he would “discourage the specific language,” he would not distance himself from “the idea behind it.”

The event, moderated by Bourla and Tishman Speyer CEO Robert Speyer, featured questions from high-level executives, including Centerview Partners co-founder Blair Effron, Loews CEO James Tisch, and Related Companies CEO Jeff Blau. Topics ranged from public safety and crime to economic management and city governance.

When pressed on whether he still supports defunding the police, rather than answering, Mamdani pivoted to his proposal to expand community-based mental health services. On the issue of crime, Mamdani did not rule out keeping NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, daughter of James Tisch, who has been credited with a recent drop in crime. He said personnel decisions have not been finalized.

Mamdani also faced scrutiny over his past social media presence, telling the crowd that tweets from earlier years should not necessarily be held against him. “Viewpoints can change,” he said.

The room included a who’s who of corporate New York, from Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi to Vox Media President Pam Wasserstein. But some of the city’s most prominent executives, including JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon and BlackRock’s Larry Fink, skipped the event.

The visit to the Partnership for New York City comes as Mamdani ramps up efforts to court the business community after a decisive Democratic primary victory last month. He has since begun cold-calling financial leaders and sharpening his message on fiscal responsibility, even as he continues to campaign on progressive policies such as free bus rides, government-run grocery stores, and rent control.