A key figure within Zohran Mamdani’s transition team has reportedly come under scrutiny for making inflammatory remarks about Jewish people and expressing skepticism toward LGBTQ+ rights, igniting significant controversy as Mamdani prepares for his new role in New York City government. The New York Post reports, these statements reportedly surfaced on social media and internal communications, drawing criticism from Jewish organizations and rights groups, as well as calls for accountability from city officials.
According to The Post, “Hassaan Chaudhary, who identifies himself as newly appointed political director for Mamdani’s transition and inaugural committee on LinkedIn, used the word ‘Jew’ as a slur, and even praised former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who infamously said Israel is ‘a cancer which will be eliminated soon.’ Chaudhary, who was the director of Muslim engagement for the Mamdani campaign, also described Israel as a ‘bloody country’ and a ‘barbaric nation’ in the posts — some of which date back to when he was 18 years old.”
Chaudhury also lauded Ahmadinejad and called him “fearless,” The Post reports.
“This banda [person] is fearless RT “@murtazasolangi President Ahmedinejad has declared Israel as cancer which will be eliminated very soon,” Chaudhury wrote in an X post to Pakistani official Murtaza Solangi.
Additionally, in November 2012 Chaudhury said in a post to a Pakistani journalist, “There is a barbaric nation who’s killing indigents and innocent Palestinians called ISRAEL. TALK about it. #stupid media.”
The controversy extends beyond antisemitism. Comments questioning the legitimacy of gay rights have circulated, raising concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates about the transition team’s stance. In response, some have called on Mamdani to clarify his position and assure the public that LGBTQ+ protections will remain a priority under his administration.
Despite allegations, supporters of Mamdani highlight his record as a progressive who has championed the rights of marginalized communities, including strong support for LGBTQ+ causes and efforts to reform policing and social welfare in New York. They argue that some attacks on Mamdani are politically motivated or Islamophobic, intended to delegitimize his historic election as New York’s first Muslim mayor.
The situation has led to increased institutional vigilance from Jewish organizations, with calls to monitor appointments and policy statements more closely in Mamdani’s administration. The controversy is expected to shape public perception and civic discourse in the city, as debates over antisemitism, Israel-Palestine policy, and the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric continue.
Jewish activists said Chaudhary’s remarks reflected antisemitic attitudes and argued that he should not be part of a Mamdani administration.
According to The Post, Chaudhary apologized for the comments in a statement to the outlet on Sunday: “I apologize for my tweets, as they do not reflect my current views, or represent who I am today,” he said. “Those comments from over a decade ago are not in line with how I see the world, and I look back at that rhetoric and mindset with deep regret.”
Dov Hikind, a former Brooklyn assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, said, “This is Adolf Hitler language. It’s antisemitic. It’s a horror show.”
