Robert Tucker, the former FDNY Director, has spoken out following his resignation, which came after Zoran Mamdani’s victory in the mayoral election. Tucker expressed his dismay regarding Mamdani’s socialist campaign from the onset.
As a Jewish philanthropist and businessman, Tucker was particularly troubled by Mamdani’s criticism of Israel during the campaign. He shared his thoughts during an interview with Tony Dokoupil on CBS Morning, set to air this week.
In a preview of the interview released on Wednesday, Dokoupil asked Tucker, “When did you realize that the new mayor might conflict with your personal beliefs?”
“The entire campaign made that clear for me,” Tucker responded, reflecting on his views.
Tucker indicated that his faith played a significant role in his decision and noted that Mamdani would need to address several issues to gain the backing of frontline officials in New York City.
He submitted his resignation to Mayor Eric Adams just hours after Mamdani, a Muslim state representative from Queens, won the election on November 4, defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Mamdani’s democratic socialist stance has raised some eyebrows across the boroughs, especially among the Jewish community, due to his past anti-Israel remarks.
Tucker’s official resignation is set for December 19, following over a year in his role. He plans to return to T&M USA, a New York-based private security firm connected to Israel, where he previously held the position of president.
Mamdani has frequently critiqued Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the country’s actions in Gaza, especially after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
When Tucker was initially appointed by Adams, there were some controversies surrounding T&M due to allegations involving a billionaire client reportedly collaborating with Chinese intelligence.
