‘A Little Research’: Adams Hits Back After Tapper Says He Can’t Remember Mamdani ‘Praising Hamas’

Democrat New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushed back on CNN’s Jake Tapper Friday on “The Lead” after the host pressed him on when Democrat mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani allegedly praised the terror group Hamas.

Mamdani drew massive media attention Tuesday after winning the Democratic mayoral nomination, with critics pointing to his socialist views and past comments on Hamas and Israel. While discussing Adams’ campaign against Mamdani, Tapper asked what “specifically” Mamdani has said that Adams considers “antisemitic” and troubling for Jewish voters.

“Pro-Hamas,” Adams said. “Hamas is a dangerous terrorist organization that should be destroyed. When you embrace the philosophies of Hamas, not only what they do to their own people, but what they did in Gaza to lift them up and praise them, I think that’s a clear indicator that something is wrong with that.”

“When did he praise Hamas?” Tapper asked. “I don’t recall him ever praising Hamas.”

Before running for mayor, Mamdani reportedly pursued a rap career under the names “Mr. Cardamom” and “Young Cardamom,” according to Fox News. (RELATED: Socialist Org Says Zohran Mamdani Driving Membership Through The Roof)

WATCH:

In a 2017 track, Mamdani says “My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look ’em up,” appearing to reference five leaders of the Holy Land Foundation convicted of funneling over $12 million to Hamas. The rap video was resurfaced by antisemitism watchdog Canary Mission, which said on X that the song also included a call to tear down the U.S. southern border wall.

“There’s several videos, even during his days of being a rap artist, of praising Hamas and other terrorist groups. So, a little research, you’ll be able to find it. But I’m not competing against him only for what he’s done in praising Hamas,” Adams said. “I’m competing against him because this is not a socialist city. And that much of what he’s promising the people, which I think is really deplorable.”

“People that are struggling, like my family did, of living without the means that we needed. When you promise them that you’re going to give everything away free and you don’t have the authority as the mayor to do so,” Adams said. “He doesn’t have the authority to raise income tax on the top 1% of New Yorkers. Assemblymen have that authority, and that’s who he is. He couldn’t do it in assembly. How are you going to deliver it as the mayor of the city?”

In addition to Mamdani’s previous rap career, the mayoral nominee has come under fire for refusing to denounce the phrases “globalize the intifada” and “from the river to the sea” during an interview with “The Bulwark” host Tim Miller. Just before the Democratic primary ended, Mamdani doubled down on his refusal, telling reporters Tuesday that while he condemns antisemitism, the phrase “globalize the intifada” has “different meaning for many different people,” according to PIX11.

Pressed on concerns from Jewish voters about his potential leadership, Mamdani attempted to win them over Thursday on MSNBC’s “The Psaki Show,” vowing to increase funding for hate crime programs in the city by 800% to help “root out” antisemitism.

Mamdani’s campaign did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. 

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