Egypt Daily News – The political climate in the United States has grown increasingly tense following controversial remarks by Zohran Mamdani, the leading candidate in the race for mayor of New York City. Mamdani declared that he would order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit the city, citing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Speaking in December, Mamdani, a prominent figure in the Democratic Socialist movement stated: “As mayor, New York City will arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. This is a city whose values align with international law. It is time our actions reflect those values.”
The ICC previously issued arrest warrants for both Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of war crimes committed during the conflict in Gaza.
In response, Netanyahu downplayed Mamdani’s remarks during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. “I’m not concerned about that,” Netanyahu said. “I’ll be visiting the city alongside President Trump, we’ll see what happens.”
According to Fox News, Netanyahu dismissed Mamdani’s statements as “ridiculous in many ways, simply not serious.” Trump also weighed in, criticizing the candidate’s political stance: “We don’t yet know who the mayor will be, but this man is a communist, not a socialist. He’s made extremely offensive comments about Jewish people.”
Trump added: “He may win, but he relies on federal funding. He’ll have to toe the line. If he doesn’t, he’ll be in serious trouble.”
The exchange has fueled an already polarized political environment, drawing attention to both international legal tensions and the deepening ideological divides within American domestic politics.
