Trump making ‘serious, dangerous’ error embracing Mamdani, Jewish leader says

Morton Klein, national president of the Zionist Organization of America, criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for his increasingly warm interactions with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling it a “serious and dangerous mistake.” Klein stated that Trump's praise of figures like Mamdani, whom he described as a “radical socialist, Jew-hating, Israel-hater, terrorist promoter and America-hater,” legitimizes their actions. He highlighted Trump's past praise of other “bad actors” such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, arguing that this approach “mainstreams their actions.”

“His inappropriate praise of Mamdani will do the same,”

Klein said, expressing concern that this could undermine Republican efforts and harm Jewish interests. Conversely, Eugene Kontorovich, a law professor, downplayed the significance of the meeting, viewing it as a polite gesture and not necessarily an endorsement of Mamdani's views, noting Trump's history of meeting with various leaders.