‘Hitler was good at voter turnout too’: Ex-Trump official sparks chaos with Nazi remark

An MSNBC panel erupted on Tuesday ahead of the polls closing in New York City, as one of the guests, former Trump administration diplomat and impeachment trial witness Gordon Sondland, compared Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler.

"Let's talk about the elephant in the room, which is our mayoral candidate in New York," said Sondland. "This is wrong on so many levels for both parties, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Zohran Mamdani elected as mayor is going to be a disaster. He might be helpful to the Republicans as the poster child for where the Democratic Party is headed. But for New York, which is one of the biggest economic engines on the planet, it is going to be a disaster on so many levels. And for Jews in New York to support Mamdani, who is an antisemite — how do I know he's an antisemite? Because he says he's an antisemite. It's very simple."

"Well, I don't think he's ever said that, but he said other things that you point out are controversial," cut in anchor Ari Melber, with others on the panel noting Mamdani's skill at voter outreach and grassroots organizing.

"Hitler was good at voter turnout, too," replied Sondland.

The table erupted at this remark. "Listen, I think that's extreme overstatement," said Melber.

At this point, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki chimed in. "Let me ask you something. What are you so afraid of? Because there's a lot of language that is — so he's going to be the worst for New York, he's terrible for the Jewish community of New York. Actually, the truth is, among polls in New York, younger Jewish New Yorkers actually support him ... I'm just, just for clarity, for people who are watching. What are you so afraid of?"

"I'm only afraid of what he says he's going to do, and I take him at his word," said Sondland. "Let's start at the beginning. The police. New York has a security problem. We don't want to reduce police presence. We don't want to get rid of [police commissioner] Jessica Tisch."

"He said he's going to keep her!" shot back Psaki.

"I don't believe him," said Sondland. "I think the first time they have any kind of a run-in ... she doesn't need the job. So the minute there's any kind of a conflict, she's out of there and it's going to be a disaster for the city."

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