New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing scrutiny due to his interaction with Uncivilized Media, a Qatar-based outlet linked to antisemitic conspiracy theories. This comes after clips of his 2023 interview with the media outlet resurfaced.
Mamdani had previously followed Uncivilized Media on Instagram, but as of July 27, 2026, he is no longer listed among its followers. Despite this, collaborative posts from the interview were shared on both Mamdani’s and the outlet’s Instagram accounts.
Uncivilized Media has been accused of spreading antisemitic content, including claims of Jewish and Israeli global domination, as noted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). A specific video from July 2026 accused Israelis of aiming to ‘colonize the world.’
Oren Segal, senior vice president of counter-extremism and intelligence at the ADL, expressed unease about Mamdani’s association with the media outlet. While Mamdani’s interviews did not support these conspiracies, Segal questioned how Mamdani’s views differ from those of the outlet.
Segal remarked, “When one appears on any platform, it kind of normalizes the rest of the content that is out there.” He emphasized that the relationship between Mamdani and Uncivilized Media prompts questions among New Yorkers.
In the interview from September 11, 2023, Mamdani discussed the Palestinian issue, describing it as central to his identity and critiquing global inconsistency in supporting Palestinian freedom and justice. He also attributed his perspective to his upbringing in the Third World, which shaped his empathy towards Palestinians.
Later, Mamdani declared that progressive views align with Muslim beliefs, identifying himself as a socialist. He criticized attempts to portray Muslim values as opposing progressive principles, emphasizing the complex history of Muslim communities.
The interview’s reappearance has heightened concerns among Jewish residents in New York about their relationship with City Hall. Segal suggested Mamdani could alleviate fears by publicly condemning Uncivilized Media’s antisemitic narratives.
Mamdani also faced criticism for recent statements about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, characterizing him as a ‘war criminal’ and accusing him of ‘genocide’ against Palestinians.
Neither Mamdani’s office nor Uncivilized Media have responded to requests for comment on the issue.