Chuck Schumer Silent on New Mayor’s Controversial Orders

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) chose not to comment on Friday regarding New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s actions taken on his first day in office, which have sparked criticism from the global Jewish community.

One of Mamdani’s initial moves as mayor was to revoke several orders from his predecessor, Eric Adams. This included the cancellation of Executive Order 61, which had enhanced NYPD security for local synagogues, and the repeal of an anti-Semitism definition embraced by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

He also lifted the restrictions that had been placed on boycotting Israel.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry expressed concern, stating, “On his first day as mayor of New York, Mr. Mamdani showed his true face, rescinding the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism and lifting restrictions on boycotting Israel.”

Notably, Schumer’s office did not respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital about his stance on Mamdani’s decisions or how he believes New York City’s Jewish community should interpret these actions.

In the past, Schumer had not taken a public stand against Mamdani, even as it became apparent that the Socialist Party candidate was likely to secure the Democratic nomination for mayor.

“We’re continuing to talk,” Schumer mentioned when asked if he would express his backing for Mamdani.

Even when Mamdani hesitated to condemn the phrase “globalization of the intifada”—a term used by some critics of Israel—Schumer’s silence persisted. This phrasing raised eyebrows and provoked alarm among pro-Israel advocates.

Now that Mamdani is in office, some allies of Israel sense a potential threat. Ambassador Ofir Akunis, Israel’s consul general in New York, warned that Mamdani’s actions “pose an imminent threat to the safety of New York City’s Jewish community and could lead to an increase in violent anti-Semitic attacks across the city.”

In recent weeks, there have been multiple instances of anti-Semitic attacks, prompting Schumer—who is the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S.—to emphasize the need for a strong condemnation of anti-Semitism “at every turn.” After a tragic shooting at Bondi Beach that resulted in 15 deaths at a Jewish community event, Schumer asserted that Jews were specifically targeted.

“Jews are being collectively demonized,” Schumer stated. “Our collective humanity demands that we come together, regardless of race, religion, or national origin, to forcefully rebuke these forces. As I have repeatedly warned, anti-Semitism is a scourge around the world.”