Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) delivered a contradictory and hesitant response Thursday when pressed on the inflammatory “Globalize the Intifada” slogan linked to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani — a phrase critics say promotes violence and antisemitism.
During an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Warren was asked directly by host Andrew Ross Sorkin about Mamdani’s refusal to denounce the controversial slogan. “What do you think of — you know, he was asked repeatedly to condemn or whether he would condemn this phrase, ‘Globalize the intifada,’” Sorkin asked, adding pointedly, “Obviously, there are a lot of Jews — I’m Jewish — live in New York City.”
Warren’s initial answer dodged the core of the question: “Look, it’s not something I would say, and I think he has said that he will not say it. He will discourage others from saying [it].”
Pressed again by Sorkin on whether she would condemn it, Warren gave a vague answer: “Look, I don’t do that. I’m not in any part of that.”
Only after a third attempt did Warren give a direct — though still qualified — condemnation. “No, of course I do,” she said. “Look, this is not the way we should talk. If this encourages violence in any way, then I am opposed to it. I am a no-violence person.”
Elizabeth Warren supports Mamdani’s plan for government-run grocery stores
“It’s been tried in other cities around the country and has had some real successes.” pic.twitter.com/smMk8ZSWwC
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) July 18, 2025
The slogan in question — “Globalize the Intifada” — has appeared at protests around the country and is widely viewed by Jewish organizations and others as inflammatory and threatening, evoking the deadly Palestinian uprisings against Israel. Mamdani has repeatedly declined to denounce it, including in interviews with The Bulwark, NBC’s Meet the Press, and during public remarks earlier this week.
The New York Times reported that Mamdani told a room of over 100 business leaders on Tuesday that he would not personally use the phrase and would “discourage” others from doing so — a notable shift in tone, though still short of a full repudiation.
Despite her eventual condemnation of the slogan, Warren quickly pivoted to applauding Mamdani’s economic platform, which includes aggressive redistributionist policies such as government-run grocery stores, new taxes on New York City’s wealthiest residents, and plans to “Trump-proof” city government.
“Let’s be clear, Mamdani ran this race because he said, ‘I can make government work better for families,’” Warren said. She went on to blast the business community’s opposition to Mamdani: “Big-time investors are freaking out… because they can’t quite understand how somebody is going to maybe make it to be mayor without having come and bent a knee to them.”
While Mamdani’s progressive economic message has energized a far-left voting bloc, his refusal to unequivocally condemn extremist rhetoric has alarmed many across the political spectrum — especially in a city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.
