Cuomo fires at Mamdani in fiery NYC debate, asking if he sees himself as “the Jewish people’s savior”.NH
Andrew Cuomo interjected during Wednesday night’s final mayoral debate when anti-Israel front-runner Zohran Mamdani tried to reassure Jewish New Yorkers that he would also represent them, if elected.
Mamdani’s response came after after hundreds of rabbis came out warning that the Democratic nominee winning the Nov. 4 race would put Jews in the city in danger.
“Not everything is a TikTok video. You are the savior of Jewish people,” Cuomo told Mamdani sarcastically as the two faced-off with Republican Curtis Sliwa in the debate hosted by Spectrum NY1.
“You won’t denounce ‘globalizing the intifada,’ which means kill Jews. It was not several rabbis around, but it was 650 rabbis.”
The Jewish Majority released a letter – hours before the debate – signed by 650 rabbis across the US expressing alarm about the Democrat’s impact on the Jewish community.
Follow The Post’s live coverage of the final 2025 NYC Mayoral Debate
The letter included 121 rabbis in the Empire State, including more than 60 in New York City.
“We are writing in our personal capacities to declare that we cannot remain silent in the face of rising anti-Zionism and its political normalization throughout our nation,” the rabbis said.
“When public figures like New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani refuse to condemn violent slogans, deny Israel’s legitimacy, and accuse the Jewish state of genocide, they, in the words of New York Board of Rabbis president Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, ‘Delegitimize the Jewish community and encourage and exacerbate hostility toward Judaism and Jews.’”
Here are some highlights from the final 2025 NYC Mayoral Debate
The Queens state assemblyman has been an ardent Israel basher and backer of Palestinians in the Middle East, including Gaza.
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Mamdani supports the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel and, if elected mayor, has vowed to arrest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a war criminal if he sets foot in the city.
The Uganda-born candidate leaned into his own religion as a Muslim when he was faced with an onslaught of attacks from his rivals over his anti-Israel stance and the growing anti-semitism throughout the five boroughs.
“I think there is room for disagreement on many positions and many policies,” Mamdani said.
“But I also want to correct the record. I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad. That is not something that I have said and that continues to be ascribed to me,” he continued.
“And frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.”
Mamdani noted that he plans to be a mayor that will serve all New Yorkers.
“I look forward to being a mayor for every single person that calls the city home, not just those who voted for me in the Democratic primary, not just those that vote for me in this general election, but all 8.5 million New Yorkers,” he said.
“And that includes Jewish New Yorkers who may have concerns or opposition to the positions that I’ve shared about Israel and Palestine.”
The heated debate was held at the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City.
Early voting will begin on Saturday and end nine days later on Sunday, Nov. 2.
