'Monsters' & 'dark money' – NYC Mayor Mamdani under fire for remarks about AIPAC, pro-Israel advocacy groups

The mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, has drawn criticism following recent remarks about the pro-Israel lobby group, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and its supporters.

In a recent speech, Mamdani referred to AIPAC and related political actors as “monsters” and accused them of spending “millions of dollars of dark money” to influence political discourse and “turn us against each other.”

Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz of Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun in Manhattan was among the first to respond, writing in a Facebook post that Mamdani’s remarks "incited hatred against people like me.” Steinmetz then quoted portions of Mamdani’s speech, including the line that “Now is the time of monsters. These monsters take many forms today. In those who fund… bad faith attacks… those who would rather spend far more on political contributions than they would ever be made to pay in taxes.”

Steinmetz continued his post: “In other words, Mamdani is accusing AIPAC of being a monster that undermines democracy, supports genocide and wants to divide Americans. This is pure incitement.”

“Mayor Mamdani, you are talking about me," read one portion of the Facebook post, cited by the New York Post. "About millions of New Yorkers who support exactly the policies AIPAC promotes. You are demonizing them. And you are the one inciting New Yorkers against each other in order to gain power.”

The rabbi further said such language could contribute to a climate that encourages hostility toward Jewish communities and noted a May 21, 2025 shooting attack in Washington, D.C. that killed Yaron Lischinsky and his fiancée Sarah Milgrim. He suggested that inflammatory rhetoric can have real-world consequences, though he did not directly attribute responsibility for the attack to Mamdani.

Additional criticism came from other organizations. The Simon Wiesenthal Center said Mamdani's comments echo longstanding patterns of antisemitic rhetoric.

“The claim that Jewish political participation is inherently suspicious, illegitimate or secretly manipulative is appalling,” said Jim Berk, CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “It is the same old story, retold in new language.”

The Anti-Defamation League also condemned Mamdani's statement.

“Referring to members of the Jewish community who advocate for issues important to them as ‘monsters’ using ‘dark money’ is shockingly offensive and unacceptable for a mayor who claims to represent all New Yorkers,” the ADL New York and New Jersey offices stated.

Supporters of Mamdani, however, argue that his comments were directed at political lobbying practices rather than Jewish people generally. They say his criticism focused on the influence of lobbying organizations, including AIPAC, in U.S. elections and their financial support for candidates for both Democrats and Republicans.

Critics contend that his repeated references to AIPAC carry broader implications, while his defenders reject that interpretation and say his remarks concern political advocacy and policy influence rather than identity.