According to a report by The Times of Israel, a member of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team has issued a public apology after past social media remarks targeting Israel and Jews resurfaced.
Hassaan Chaudhary, who currently serves as a Muslim outreach official within Mamdani’s circle, faced scrutiny after The New York Post highlighted a series of online posts he made around 2012. In those messages, Chaudhary harshly condemned Israel over the conflict with Palestinians. One post described Israel as a “barbaric nation” responsible for killing displaced and innocent Palestinians.
Additional content attributed to Chaudhary reportedly labeled Israel a “bloody country” and included a derogatory Urdu expression insulting Jews. The archived posts also criticized LGBTQ+ rights as something that “doesn’t make sense.” Chaudhary, now 31, also voiced approval of former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the time, quoting remarks describing Israel as a “cancer” destined to be eradicated.
The report further indicates that, as recently as last year, Chaudhary shared a post accusing Josh Shapiro — Pennsylvania’s Jewish governor — of supporting violence against children in Gaza.
Responding to questions about the resurfaced remarks, Chaudhary expressed regret and insisted that the posts do not reflect the outlook he holds today. In a statement provided to The New York Post, he said he was “deeply remorseful” and emphasized that his views had evolved considerably since those earlier years.
“I apologize for my tweets, as they do not reflect my current views, or represent who I am today,” Chaudhary said, noting that the decade-old comments do not align with how he now understands global issues or how he values different communities. “I look back at that rhetoric and mindset with deep regret.”
A spokesperson for Mayor-elect Mamdani also distanced the transition team from the posts, stressing that the language used in the messages is unacceptable.
The spokesperson stated that the comments are “reprehensible” and reiterated that they do not embody the principles of the incoming administration. According to the statement, Mamdani has consistently made his position clear both throughout the campaign and during the transition process.
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