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Zohran Mamdani<\/a> will once again address the controversy stemming from his comments on the phrase \u201cglobalize the intifada\u201d that he made during a podcast interview in June \u2014 and he\u2019ll be inserting even more distance between himself and the slogan.<\/p>\n The New York Times<\/a> reports that the Democratic mayoral nominee told a meeting of the city\u2019s top CEOs and business leaders that he would \u201cdiscourage\u201d use of the phrase that some use in support of the Palestinian resistance and that others hear as a call of violence toward Jewish people. Mamdani\u2019s shift, per the Daily News<\/a>, came following a conversation between the candidate and a Jewish woman who said the phrase triggered memories of a bombing in Israel. According to Politico<\/a>, Mamdani will publicly address his position on the slogan, but the campaign did not provide additional information on how or when that will occur.<\/p>\n His comments on the phrase have evolved over time.<\/p>\n The subject first arose during an interview with The Bulwark<\/a> last month where Mamdani was asked about the phrase. The assemblymember said that he is \u201cless comfortable\u201d with the idea of banning certain words and that the mayor\u2019s focus needs to be on keeping Jewish New Yorkers safe, calling antisemitism in the city \u201ca real issue.\u201d<\/p>\n In an interview with NBC News<\/a> following his primary victory, Mamdani said that he doesn\u2019t personally use the phrase but stopped short of explicitly condemning its usage. \u201cThat\u2019s not language that I use,\u201d he said. \u201cThe language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead this city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights.\u201d<\/p>\n Several of Mamdani\u2019s opponents criticized him for not condemning the phrase, with Andrew Cuomo <\/a>making it a central part<\/a> of his campaign. In response to the reports, the former governor accused <\/a>Mamdani of attempting to \u201creinvent himself\u201d for the general election, calling him a \u201cfraud.\u201d<\/p>\n House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is set to meet<\/a> with Mamdani this week and has yet to officially endorse him for mayor, has cited Mamdani\u2019s refusal to condemn the slogan as something he needs to rectify. \u201cWith respect to the Jewish communities that I represent, I think our nominee is going to have to convince folks that he is prepared to aggressively address the rise in antisemitism in the city of New York, which has been an unacceptable development,\u201d he said in an interview with ABC News<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n Mamdani\u2019s shift on the issue was just one of the ways he tried to build a bridge during his Tuesday meeting with numerous members of the city\u2019s business community \u2014 which was set up to introduce the democratic socialist to some of his most prominent skeptics.<\/p>\n Kathy Wylde, the CEO of the Partnership for New York City, which organized the gathering, recounted the meeting in an interview with CNBC<\/a>. She said she believed the leaders in the room came away thinking Mamdani \u201cwas the most impressive candidate they have seen in generations\u201d but said that positive assessment didn\u2019t change their impression that he is \u201ctotally inexperienced.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe said, \u2018Well, I\u2019d surround myself with good people and follow the Mike Bloomberg principle of letting them do their job.\u2019 That was a good answer, but I don\u2019t think it made up for the lack of experience,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Wylde continued, \u201cThis was strictly a \u2018get to know the candidate\u2019 conversation. I doubt it changed many minds, but I think it lowered the temperature.\u201d<\/p>\n Sign Up for the Intelligencer\u00a0Newsletter<\/p>\n Daily news about the politics, business, and technology shaping our world.<\/p>\n Vox Media, LLC Terms and Privacy Notice<\/p>\n