Zohran Mamdani Calls AIPAC ‘Monsters’ at Brooklyn Rally

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called AIPAC “monsters” during a Get Out the Vote rally in Brooklyn, accusing the organization of using money and influence to divide Americans and block opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza.

The remarks were made Thursday night at Kings Theatre, where Mamdani appeared alongside Sen. Bernie Sanders to support progressive candidates ahead of New York’s Democratic primaries. The event featured candidates Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who are running with the backing of the city’s socialist and progressive camp.

“The monsters that we are up against, they take many different forms,” Mamdani told the crowd, before turning directly to AIPAC.

He described the group as one “for whom the only thing more frightening than democracy being allowed to run its course is an end to genocide and Netanyahu’s wars.”

Mamdani then accused AIPAC of using political money to protect its influence.

“They move millions in dark money to accomplish a single goal: to preserve their power so that they can turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary,” he said.

He ended the passage by telling supporters: “In the wealthiest city, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, we need not live in fear of monsters any longer.”

The comments drew criticism from Jewish voices and pro-Israel commentators, who said the language went beyond ordinary criticism of a lobbying group. Critics focused on Mamdani’s description of AIPAC as a hidden force using money to preserve power, divide society and frighten the public, language they said echoed long-running antisemitic tropes about Jewish influence.

AIPAC, one of the most influential pro-Israel advocacy groups in the United States, has become a central target of the progressive left in recent election cycles. Its affiliated political action committees have spent heavily against candidates who oppose U.S. support for Israel or accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Sanders also criticized AIPAC at the rally, saying, “The American people understand that a large part of our horrific foreign policy is impacted by AIPAC funding.”

Mamdani’s remarks came five days before New York’s Democratic primaries, where he is trying to help elect Lander, Valdez and Avila Chevalier and strengthen the city’s socialist wing in Congress. Two of the races directly involve incumbent Democrats who have drawn left-wing criticism over Israel and AIPAC ties.

The speech also showed how central Israel has become to those races. Mamdani praised Valdez for accusing Netanyahu of war crimes and organizing for a ceasefire, while Sanders told the same crowd that American foreign policy is shaped by AIPAC funding.

AIPAC did not immediately respond to requests for comment cited by Jewish media. Mamdani has not publicly retracted the remarks.