Former MSNBC host Joy Reid is drawing attention after declaring that she will no longer support Democratic candidates who back the United States’ relationship with Israel.
Reid made the comments during a recent episode of The Joy Reid Show on YouTube while speaking with author Ta-Nehisi Coates. The discussion centered on U.S. policy toward Israel and growing divisions within the Democratic Party over the issue.
“To me, I, going forward, cannot vote for a Democrat who does not pledge to end this relationship” with Israel, Reid said.
“This relationship needs to end,” she added.
Reid argued that Israel no longer requires American financial assistance and criticized the longstanding alliance between the two countries.
“They don’t need our money, and they definitely won’t get my vote,” she said, describing Israel as “a nuclear-armed expansionist power.”
The remarks come amid a broader debate within Democratic politics regarding U.S. support for Israel. While mainstream Democratic leaders continue to support the alliance, criticism of Israeli government policies has become increasingly common among progressive activists and some elected officials.
Reid’s comments place her among those advocating a more dramatic shift in American policy, including ending military and financial support.
The interview, which took place last week, quickly generated reactions from both supporters and critics. Some progressives have argued that the United States should place greater conditions on aid to Israel or reevaluate the relationship entirely. Opponents contend that abandoning a longtime ally would undermine American interests and regional stability.
The controversy also revived scrutiny of previous allegations involving Reid’s comments about Jewish communities.
In 2024, the New York Post reported claims from a former MSNBC production assistant who alleged that Reid made remarks during the COVID-19 pandemic blaming Orthodox Jewish communities for contributing to the spread of the virus in New York.
According to the former staffer, Reid allegedly stated during a conference call that Orthodox Jews were helping spread COVID and did not care about transmitting the disease to others. The former employee, who identified as Jewish, said the comments were troubling and appeared to generalize an entire religious community.
The allegations have never resulted in any public disciplinary action, and Reid has not publicly addressed the specific claims reported by the former staffer.
The former employee also criticized what they described as a disconnect between the values promoted on Reid’s program and the treatment of certain groups.
“It was a very hypocritical atmosphere,” the former staffer told the Post, arguing that some forms of discrimination received more attention than others.
Reid, who built her national profile through commentary on race, politics, and social justice issues, has frequently been a polarizing figure. Her departure from MSNBC did little to diminish her influence among progressive audiences, and her online platform continues to attract attention when she weighs in on major political controversies.
