Republican Florida Congressman Byron Donalds blasted New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday, arguing that the progressive lawmaker has no authority to enforce “international law” within the city’s jurisdiction.
The clash comes after Mamdani, who recently won the mayoral election, reiterated his pledge to enforce the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York City.
Appearing on Fox Business’s “Kudlow,” Rep. Donalds firmly rejected Mamdani’s position, reminding the Mayor-elect of his upcoming oath of office.
“Mamdani, I think, came out the other day and said that New York City is going to follow international law. Who the hell is he? He does not have the authority to do that,” Donalds told host Larry Kudlow. “When he gets sworn in as the next mayor of New York, he’s still in that oath going to pledge allegiance to the Constitution to protect the laws of the city of New York and of the United States. That’s part of the oath.”
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Donalds suggested that Mamdani’s prioritization of international law over U.S. and local statutes is evidence of the risks involved in electing “an untested radical.”
“What is this guy doing? This is what happens when you elect a radical who’s never had a job, who’s never done anything constructive in his life except be in the New York Assembly and go on TikTok,” Donalds stated. “Now you got a guy who’s saying that New York City won’t follow the laws of the United States. It will follow international law. That is insanity. So, unfortunately, this is going to come to a conflict, politically and legally, and Zohran Mamdani is going to lose.”
Donalds added that he believes many registered Democrats are “alarmed” and saying, “‘This is crazy. I didn’t sign up for this,'” in response to the Democratic party’s perceived “hard-left turn.”
Mamdani’s Stance
Mayor-elect Mamdani, a prominent progressive figure, has previously been outspoken against the Israeli government. He has accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of waging “a genocidal war,” and while acknowledging Hamas’ actions as a “horrific war crime,” he has primarily focused his criticism on Israel and the United States’ alleged “complicity.”
Mamdani’s campaign platform included an aggressive left-wing agenda, which featured proposals to cap housing costs, mandate a $30 hourly wage, and increase taxes on high earners and major companies. He also proposed replacing police on non-violent emergency calls with social workers.
The controversy over the ICC warrant and the limits of municipal power sets the stage for a potential legal and political showdown in New York City as Mamdani prepares to take office.
READ: House Ethics Committee Launches Formal Investigation Into Florida Rep. Cory Mills
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