“There has been antisemitism in New York, this isn't something new because he got elected last night,” MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough said, pushing back on Greenblatt’s assertion that Mamdani’s decisive victory Tuesday night might usher in a wave of antisemitic violence.
“We are concerned, because Jewish New Yorkers are alarmed,” Greenblatt said. “I'll look right at the camera: if you are a Jewish New Yorker, we have your back! …We are simply going to track what he does.”
Greenblatt went on to voice concerns about who Mamdani – who received 33% of Jewish vote, all of whom President Donald Trump called “stupid” – may appoint in his administration, what policies he might pursue, and whether he’d “change the purchasing policies” of the city because of his criticisms of the state of Israel, “potentially hurting the pocketbooks of New Yorkers.”
Greenblatt then made reference to several recent instances of political violence targeting Jewish people, including the firebombing of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence, the fatal shooting of two Israel embassy staff members, and deadly terror attack in Colorado, all attacks that the suspected perpetrators have said were motivated by their disdain for Israel.
“We're all shocked and we all find this abhorrent,” Scarborough said, “and I'm sure the next mayor would say the same thing, wouldn't he?”
“You have to ask him,” Greenblatt said bluntly.
“He has gone to one High Holiday service after another, he has talked to the Jewish community!” Scarborough countered.
“Ehhhhhh... that's not exactly right,” Greenblatt said. “He went to an anti-Zionist synagogue, which is like going to the Black breakout at CPAC and saying you understand African Americans, I mean come on!”
Scarborough then went on to challenge Greenblatt’s mention of the acts of political violence.
“You're not suggesting that he supports the fire bombing in Colorado?” Scarborough asked.
“I never said that! I never said that, no no!” Greenblatt fired back before Scarborough erupted at him for "blurring a lot of things together.”
“There's a lot of blurring and blending here Jonathan!” Scarborough said. “You know I love you, you're on all the time and we're always a fierce defender of yours, but you seem to be blurring a lot of things together and then looking into that camera and say 'call us!’”
Greenblatt has faced scrutiny in recent months, including for falsely stating that Mamdani had not visited “a single synagogue [or] one Jewish neighborhood,” despite Mamdani having attended several synagogues and Jewish institutions during his campaign. Greenblatt also received scrutiny for voicing concerns about Jewish “intermarriage” threatening “Jewish identity,” despite the ADL labeling “No Race Mixing” as a hate symbol.
