Mamdani Appoints Antisemite Waleed Shahid to Key Communications Role
"Jew-hatred as a punchline": Outgoing Adams officials and the ADL blast Mayor Mamdani’s hiring of progressive strategist Waleed Shahid. Critics cite Shahid’s deleted Oct 7 posts and history of anti-Israel activism.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has appointed Waleed Shahid as Deputy Communications Director of Economic Justice, a newly created position focused on advancing policies related to affordability and worker protections.
The announcement, made yesterday, has sparked controversy due to Shahid's past statements and affiliations, particularly his criticism of Israel and a 2022 social media post mocking a Jewish publication.
Shahid, a prominent progressive strategist, previously served as spokesperson for Justice Democrats, a group that has backed anti-establishment candidates such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY).
He also played a key role in the "Uncommitted" movement during the 2024 Democratic primaries, protesting the Biden administration's policies on Gaza, and advised Cynthia Nixon's 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
In a since-deleted post on October 7, 2023, Shahid described the Hamas attacks as a "byproduct of Israel’s violent policies of occupation," a statement that drew sharp rebuke from pro-Israel groups. He has also defended the slogan "from the river to the sea" in deleted posts.
The appointment follows Shahid's earlier involvement in Mamdani's transition team, announced in November 2025, where he served on the Committee on Community Organizing alongside other progressive figures.
Mamdani's transition included 17 committees with over 400 members, addressing issues like housing, community safety, and economic development.
Critics, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and groups like StopAntisemitism, have highlighted a 2022 tweet where Shahid referred to Jewish Insider as the "Goy Outsider," using the term "goy" (Hebrew for non-Jew), which some view as derogatory when appropriated in certain contexts.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt called the remark "flippant & insulting to the mainstream Jewish community." However, supporters, including progressive Jewish leaders, have defended it as a lighthearted joke.
The hiring has drawn backlash from Jewish and pro-Israel organizations, who argue it reflects a pattern in Mamdani's appointments, including other anti-Israel activists on his transition team.
The outgoing Adams administration commented that Shahid's role "isn’t a surprise - it’s confirmation," accusing Mamdani of building a "pipeline for activists who treat Jew-hatred as a punchline."