MSNBC host Joe Scarborough challenged Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt on Wednesday over his criticism of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, accusing the ADL chief of “blurring and blending” lines in his remarks.
Following Mamdani’s decisive victory, which made him the first-ever Muslim mayor of New York City, Greenblatt announced the ADL was launching a “Mamdani Monitor” to track the administration’s policies and personnel, citing deep concern that individuals and principles tied to Mamdani’s “intense animosity toward the Jewish state” would influence his leadership.
Greenblatt stated he worried about this influence amidst a “brazen surge of harassment, vandalism and violence targeting Jewish residents.”
Mamdani, outspoken in his views on Israel’s war in Gaza and Palestinian rights, has pushed back against accusations that his stance is antisemitic, gaining support from young and progressive Jewish voters. In his victory speech, Mamdani vowed to build a city hall that “stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers” and fights antisemitism.
The clash occurred during Greenblatt’s appearance on Morning Joe, where he referenced Mamdani’s support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, questioning if this ideological commitment would affect city purchasing policies.
Greenblatt also invoked recent antisemitic attacks in America, such as an arson attack and a firebombing, while expressing concern about Mamdani’s election. Scarborough immediately intervened, pointing out that Mamdani has previously condemned such acts and has been meeting with Jewish community members.
Greenblatt countered that Mamdani had only visited an “anti-Zionist synagogue” and has yet to “engage” with what he described as mainstream Jewish institutions.
The MSNBC host grew frustrated, directly accusing the ADL CEO of “blurring a lot of things together” and asking if Greenblatt was suggesting Mamdani supported the recent violent attacks, which Greenblatt denied.
Scarborough then urged Greenblatt to take a more “constructive” approach, suggesting he call Mamdani’s team rather than urging Jewish New Yorkers to call the ADL if they felt unsafe.
Greenblatt maintained that his “job” is to keep the Jewish community safe and that while he’s not accusing Mamdani of supporting violence, he wants to ensure the mayor-elect does not “create an environment where Jewish people are unsafe.”
READ: Zohran Mamdani Tops Cuomo To Win New York City Mayoral Race
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