Apollo CEO Marc Rowan labels NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani as an ‘enemy’ of Jews for ‘normalizing antisemitism’

Apollo CEO Criticizes Incoming NYC Mayor

Mark Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, labeled incoming New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani an “enemy” of the Jewish community. He urged Jewish individuals to confront the far-left and accused Mamdani of promoting anti-Semitism.

Rowan stated, “A person who uses anti-Semitism in his campaigns and normalizes anti-Semitism—he is our enemy.” This remark came during a dinner hosted by the UJA Federation on Monday night.

“Make no mistake: We are facing challenges domestically. I don’t think we have to wait to find out,” Rowan stated. He leads one of the world’s largest asset management firms and serves as chair of the New York Federation.

The event at the Marriott Marquis attracted nearly 2,000 attendees and raised $57 million for pro-Israel initiatives, as noted by a Jewish insider.

Rowan emphasized the need to criticize Mamdani, who will take office on January 1 and describes himself as a Muslim democratic socialist. “I know that UJA, which is associated with the Jewish community, is going to do that,” he added.

Many Jewish leaders and organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, have condemned Mamdani for his provocative remarks about Israel and Zionism. Additionally, he did not denounce chants that accuse Israel’s policies toward Palestinians of being “genocide” and “apartheid”—phrases that pro-Israel groups argue incite violence against Jews.

Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, Rowan has been vocal in addressing the rise of anti-Semitism within various sectors, including education. He previously called for the resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Liz McGill and Board Chair Scott Bok, who stepped down months later.

At the dinner, Rowan asserted the importance of community involvement while also identifying potential threats. “Make no mistake about it, these are potentially dark times,” he warned the audience, referring to dangers from both extremes of the political spectrum.

Rowan urged the community to understand the personal risks faced by Jewish leaders and to forge alliances with other groups that share similar values. “We have many enemies,” he reiterated.

While some executives expressed a willingness to collaborate with Mamdani, concerns linger among many business leaders regarding his leadership.

Rowan did not address Mamdani’s campaign commitments to enhance funding for hate crime prevention significantly, which might have been a strategy to attract Jewish voters. Jewish New Yorkers are, understandably, feeling uncertain about the future.

When approached for comment regarding Rowan’s remarks, the UJA Federation reaffirmed its commitment to holding all elected officials, including Mamdani, accountable for protecting Jewish life and supporting Israel.