Fact Check: Gillibrand Falsely Accused Mamdani of Supporting Global Jihad
What We Know
On a recent episode of WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand suggested that New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani had condoned "global jihad." This statement was made in response to a caller who presented various claims about Mamdani, including accusations of antisemitism and connections to terrorist organizations (Rolling Stone). Following the backlash, Gillibrand's office clarified that she "misspoke" and did not mean to imply that Mamdani supported global jihad, but rather was addressing concerns about his past statements (The Hill).
Mamdani has publicly denounced violence and has been endorsed by several Jewish leaders, which contradicts the claims made by the caller and Gillibrand (Rolling Stone). Furthermore, Lehrer himself noted that there was no evidence supporting the claim that Mamdani had ever endorsed Hamas or violent jihad (Rolling Stone).
Analysis
Gillibrand's assertion that Mamdani supported "global jihad" is not substantiated by any credible evidence. The senator's comments came during a radio interview where she appeared to endorse the caller's claims without adequately verifying their accuracy. This raises concerns about the reliability of her statements, especially given that Lehrer, the show's host, attempted to fact-check the caller's assertions in real time (Rolling Stone).
The backlash against Gillibrand's comments has been significant, with critics labeling her remarks as Islamophobic and unfounded. For instance, a piece in Truthout described her comments as a "nasty, Islamophobic racist smear" against Mamdani, emphasizing that he has never invoked the concept of "global jihad" (Truthout). This indicates a broader concern regarding the implications of her statements, particularly in the context of rising Islamophobia in political discourse.
Gillibrand's spokesperson later clarified that her comments were not meant to accuse Mamdani directly of supporting jihad, but rather to express concern over his rhetoric. However, this clarification came only after significant public outcry, suggesting that her initial comments were misleading and potentially damaging (Rolling Stone).
Conclusion
The claim that Gillibrand falsely accused Mamdani of supporting global jihad is True. Her comments were not backed by evidence and were later retracted by her office, indicating a recognition of the inaccuracy of her statements. The lack of substantiation for her claims, coupled with the immediate pushback from both the show's host and the public, underscores the need for careful verification in political discourse, particularly regarding sensitive topics such as terrorism and religious extremism.
