Nancy Pelosi Rebukes Mamdani and El-Sayed Over Israel Comments, Exposing Divisions Among Democrats

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is publicly criticizing two prominent progressive Democrats over their positions on Israel, calling remarks by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed wrong and distancing congressional Democrats from their views.

Pelosi delivered the criticism Thursday during an appearance on the On Brand podcast with Donny Deutsch, who questioned whether the Democratic Party was becoming increasingly hostile toward Israel and Jewish Americans.

The exchange highlighted disagreements within the Democratic Party over Israel’s identity as a Jewish state, an issue that has become particularly contentious among progressive politicians.

Deutsch, who is Jewish and has long identified as a Democrat, expressed concern about politicians who decline to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

He specifically identified Mamdani and El-Sayed as examples of Democratic figures whose statements have troubled him.

Pelosi initially attempted to minimize the extent of antisemitism within her party, saying she was unaware of Democratic colleagues actively engaging in such behavior.

However, when Deutsch described the positions taken by Mamdani and El-Sayed, the former speaker acknowledged that their remarks went beyond merely raising concerns.

“No, it’s more than concerning,” Pelosi responded. “It’s wrong. It’s wrong.”

Pelosi emphasized that the positions described by Deutsch did not represent the consensus among congressional Democrats.

Her remarks were particularly significant because Mamdani and El-Sayed have emerged as prominent figures within the party’s progressive wing.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist who became mayor of New York City, has repeatedly faced questions about whether he believes Israel should maintain its identity as a Jewish state.

During a June interview with ABC News, Mamdani said he supported Israel’s existence as a country that guarantees equal rights to its citizens.

However, he declined to endorse the idea of a state that formally privileges one religious identity over others.

Mamdani argued that his objection applied broadly to governments that give preferential status to a particular religion, rather than exclusively to Israel.

His position has nevertheless drawn criticism from Jewish organizations and political leaders who consider Israel’s Jewish identity essential to its national character and historical purpose.

The disagreement centers on competing understandings of national self-determination, religious equality and the relationship between Israel’s Jewish identity and its democratic institutions.

El-Sayed, who is competing against Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan’s open Senate seat, has expressed similar reservations.

During a May discussion with Jewish supporters, El-Sayed acknowledged struggling with questions about whether Israel should exist specifically as a Jewish state.

He suggested that establishing a country around a particular ethnic or religious identity could conflict with principles of equal citizenship.

El-Sayed has also distinguished between recognizing Israel’s existence and endorsing its constitutional identity as a Jewish state.

In another interview, he stated that he did not dispute Israel’s right to exist but opposed the concept of an ethnically defined state.

Those comments have attracted scrutiny during the closing stages of Michigan’s Senate campaign, particularly among voters concerned about antisemitism and American support for Israel.

Pelosi’s criticism comes just days before the November 3 midterm elections, adding another complication for Democrats attempting to maintain unity across their ideological factions.

The former speaker made clear that she does not agree with several of Mamdani’s statements, even while expressing hope that he succeeds in his responsibilities as New York City’s mayor.

She also acknowledged El-Sayed’s candidacy without endorsing his comments about Israel.

Pelosi sought to distinguish the positions of individual progressive politicians from those of Democratic lawmakers serving in Congress.

She argued that House Democrats do not automatically embrace the views expressed by every elected official or candidate associated with their party.

The former speaker also pointed to House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, maintaining that he has been clear about the party’s congressional position.

Her comments reflect a broader challenge for Democratic leadership as disagreements over Israel continue influencing political debates.

For decades, the Democratic Party has included lawmakers who strongly support Israel’s security and recognize its importance as a longstanding American ally.

More recently, disagreements over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have become increasingly visible, particularly among younger progressive activists and elected officials.

Those disputes intensified during the war in Gaza, with some Democrats demanding greater restrictions on American military assistance to Israel.

Other Democrats have warned that rhetoric questioning Israel’s legitimacy or minimizing threats against Jewish communities can contribute to antisemitism.

Pelosi’s interview demonstrated the difficulty of navigating those disagreements while maintaining support from different parts of the party.

At one point, she told Deutsch that she did not personally know of Democrats engaged in antisemitism.

She acknowledged that certain statements could be interpreted as antisemitic but suggested that such conduct, where it exists, involves relatively few individuals.

That explanation drew criticism from Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values.

Menken described Pelosi as a longtime friend of the Jewish community but questioned whether she fully recognized the concerns raised by Jewish religious leaders.

He argued that dismissing antisemitism within Democratic circles could undermine efforts to confront the problem.

His criticism focused on the difference between Pelosi’s willingness to condemn particular remarks and her broader reluctance to acknowledge antisemitism as a significant concern within her party.

Deutsch raised a similar issue during the interview.

He questioned how Jewish Democrats should reconcile their longstanding political loyalties with the emergence of candidates whose positions on Israel they consider unacceptable.

For some Jewish voters, the question of Israel’s identity carries particular importance because of the country’s founding as a homeland for the Jewish people following centuries of persecution and the Holocaust.

Others distinguish support for Jewish safety and self-determination from support for particular constitutional arrangements or government policies in Israel.

Those differences have contributed to increasingly contentious discussions within American politics.

Mamdani has maintained that his positions are rooted in equal rights and opposition to discrimination, rather than hostility toward Jewish people.

El-Sayed has likewise emphasized his commitment to combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish communities.

Neither politician has accepted the characterization that questioning Israel’s status as a Jewish state necessarily constitutes antisemitism.

Pelosi, however, made clear that she disagrees with the positions described during the interview.

The former speaker’s intervention carries considerable political weight because of her decades of leadership within the Democratic Party.

Pelosi served as House speaker during two separate periods and remains an influential figure among Democratic lawmakers and donors.

Her willingness to criticize Mamdani and El-Sayed publicly demonstrates that disagreements over Israel extend well beyond routine partisan disputes.

The controversy also arrives during an important political moment for El-Sayed.

Michigan voters will choose between him and Rogers in a closely watched Senate contest next Tuesday.

Israel and foreign policy have already become issues in the campaign, with El-Sayed facing questions about his previous statements and political associations.

Pelosi’s remarks place additional attention on those positions at a time when Democratic candidates are attempting to focus on economic concerns and domestic policy.

For Mamdani, the criticism represents another disagreement with established Democratic leaders over his approach to Israel.

Although Pelosi expressed hope that the mayor succeeds in office, she drew a clear distinction between supporting his ability to govern and agreeing with his political positions.

The interview ultimately underscored an unresolved debate over how the Democratic Party defines its relationship with Israel and responds to allegations of antisemitism.

Pelosi attempted to defend congressional Democrats while acknowledging that statements by prominent progressive figures crossed a line she considered unacceptable.

Her criticism adds a notable voice to the continuing debate over Israel, Jewish identity and the direction of the Democratic Party as the midterm elections approach.