How the ADL Became Zohran Mamdani’s Unofficial PR Firm

On January 1, 2026, New York City entered a new and turbulent era. Just one day after taking office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city's first democratic socialist and Muslim mayor, fulfilled a controversial campaign promise by revoking the executive order recognizing the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. While Jewish leaders like William Daroff condemned the move as a "troubling indicator" of the city’s direction, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) stood ready with a curious response: the launch of a "Mamdani Monitor."

To the casual observer, this initiative appears to be a robust defense of the Jewish community. But a deeper look at the ADL's recent history reveals a different story. From coordinating with Antifa-adjacent groups to its own departure from the IHRA definition, the ADL has increasingly aligned itself with the same radical leftist apparatus that propelled Mamdani to City Hall. By positioning itself as the primary watchdog of the new administration, the ADL isn't preparing to expose antisemitism, it is positioning itself to bury the evidence. In the burgeoning alliance between the "progressive" ADL and the Mamdani administration, the defense of the Jewish community has been traded for the protection of a shared ideological agenda.

On January 14, 2026 the Jerusalem Post reported "Mamdani praises disbanding of Zionist organization Betar...New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani praised New York Attorney General Letitia James for ordering Betar US to cease its "campaign of violence, harassment, and intimidation against Arab, Muslim, and Jewish New Yorkers."

Responding to the mayor's comments, Betar tweeted "Mamdani's FIRST target is BETAR, a 102 year old Zionist organization headquartered in the Jabotinsky building in Israel. Expect all Zionist groups who stand with the IDF to be next

" ...Critics of the settlement were quick to point out that it was one-sided, with no similar crackdown on groups such as Within Our Lifetime, PAL-AWDA, Palestine Youth Movement (PYM), Social Justice for Palestine (SJP), or Jewish Voices for Peace, which incite and propagate hate towards the Jewish community..."

On January 13, 2025 the Washington Free Beacon reported "Mamdani's Father Attacks Columbia’s Anti-Semitism Task Force...Zohran Mamdani’s father, the radical Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, savaged the school’s anti-Semitism task force during a Dec. 12 meeting of the University Senate. Mamdani described the task force as a “prosecutorial agency” and likened its work to imperial British colonizers, who used racial divisions to maintain power, according to an unofficial transcript obtained by our Jessica Schwalb..."

On January 1, 2026 Arutz 7 reported "William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish organizations, condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's decision to cancel the executive order signed by his predecessor, Eric Adams, in June of 2025, which had formally recognized the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism. "Mayor Madani's decision to cancel New York's adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, along with related presidential orders aimed at addressing antisemitic discrimination, is a troubling indicator of the direction he is leading the city, just one day after taking office," Daroff said.

Why is the ADL silent while Mamdani and Letitia James selectivly target Jewish Organizations in NYC?

The ADL is a radical leftist organization that supports Mamdani.

The ADL is part of the intersectionality aparatus and will more likely defend leftists and muslims than Jews.

The ADL has been hijacked by leftist operatives and is now used to supress voices critical of the leftist agenda.

On October 18, 2023 the Gateway Pundit reported "NYU Student Who Tore Down Posters of Hostages Taken by Hamas Terrorists Identified as Former ADL Intern..."

On September 18, 2023 the National File reported "ADL Coordinated Closely with Violent 'Antifa' Group American Iron Front"

"An employee of the left-wing Jewish pressure group, the Anti-Defamation League has been identified as a close associate of the Antifa-adjacent American Iron Front, a black bloc group that advocates for the use of chemical and biological weapons against their political opponents.

"John Zack Ortiz, a 24-year-old UC Berkley graduate and coordinator for ADL Central Pacific, has associated closely with the American Iron Front, a violent left-wing organization that calls for the murder of its political opponents.

Ortiz has been described as acting as a “liaison” between the ADL and the AIF and using his standing within the groups to send information both ways and to keep AIF members up to date on the latest ADL intel, which the group has then used to harass its political opponents online. In AIF chat groups, where he was known as “johnyz715”, Ortiz flaunted his work with the ADL and his LinkedIn profile identifies him as an ADL “regional coordinator...”

If the ADL is really interested in fighting antisemitism why don't they condemn the left's antisemitism such as that BLM leaders ?

The radical leftist ADL and people like Mamdani are brothers in arms. Do not be fooled by the ADL's "comprehensive initiative" to monitor Mamdani's antisemitism. The ADL is likely to bury the evidence against Mamdani to protect him

Do not trust the ADL to monitor antisemitism under Mamdani, they are in the same camp, both Mamdani and the ADL are going against the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, both support the same leftist ideas.

Ron Torossian wrote in Arutz 7 "...Prominent voices, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, have condemned the ADL

"-Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA: “The ADL used to fight antisemitism. Now it fights conservatives. It has been hijacked by the far left and is now pushing transgender ideology, open borders, and censorship. Their mission has been perverted beyond recognition.”

"-Chaya Raichik, founder of Libs of TikTok: “The ADL labeled me anti-LGBTQ simply for posting what’s actually happening in schools. They don’t protect Jews anymore, they protect leftist ideology. They’re not anti-defamation, they are the Defamation League.”

" -Christopher Rufo, anti-CRT activist: “The ADL has become a political weapon masquerading as a civil rights group. It uses the veneer of Jewish identity to label its political opponents as dangerous.”

"-Stephen Miller, White House Deputy Chief of Staff: “The ADL has become a progressive pressure group that supports censorship, open borders, and the erosion of American and Jewish values.”

"-End Wokeness, popular X account: “The ADL literally labeled the phrase ‘It’s OK to be white’ as hate speech. They’ve lost all credibility.”

" These critics span the ideological spectrum, but they share one truth: the ADL no longer seems to defend Jews. It defends progressivism..."

It is obvious that the ADL is in the progressive to which Mamdani belongs yet the ADL is now pretending to oppose Mamdani.

On November 9, 2025 the Times of Israel reported "Mamdani’s New York victory exposes fault lines in Jewish Democratic politics... One-third of Jewish voters backed anti-Israel candidate, helping him to a victory that alarms those who opposed him..."

On November 5, 2025 the ADL reported "ADL Launches Initiative to Track and Monitor Mamdani Administration Policies and Appointments, Protect Jewish New Yorkers"

On November 7, 2025 Arutz 7 reported "The election of Zohran Mamdani as New York mayor, known for his anti-Israel positions, has raised alarm in the city’s Jewish community. In response, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is launching a comprehensive initiative, including monitoring the new administration’s policies and appointments and establishing a hotline for reporting anti-Semitic incidents. Carol Nuriel, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in Israel, told Israel National News - Arutz Sheva that the ADL's main goal is protecting the community’s safety. “We want to ensure antisemitism in New York is addressed effectively,” she said..."

Do not be fooled by the ADL's Mamdani "comprehensive initiative". Do not trust the ADL to monitor antisemitism under Mamdani, they are in the same camp, the ADL and Mamdani are brothers in arms, both Mamdani and the ADL are going against the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, both support the same leftist ideas.

Most of the people who work in the ADL are radical leftists who likely voted for Mamdani. Would the ADL's leftist staff be objective in reporting antisemitism under Mandami? Would the ADL protect Mamdani by hiding or watering down reported antisemitic incidents? Does the radical leftist ADL care more about shielding Mamdani or protecting the Jews?

The ADL is likely positioning itself as the goto place to report Mamdani's antisemitism in order to bury the evidence against Mamdani.

On August 27, 2025 Izzy Salant wrote in JNS " After being reinstated to World Zionist Congress, Betar US to pursue ADL... The Anti-Defamation League lists Betar US in its “glossary of extremism and hate” database.

"Betar US, which self-identifies as “loud, proud, aggressive and unapologetically Zionist,” intends to use its seats in the Zionist Organization of America’s World Zionist Congress slate to disavow the Anti-Defamation League. “We will introduce resolutions deeming the ADL hostile to the Jewish state,” Daniel Levy, a Betar spokesman, told JNS.

"The ADL’s “glossary of extremism and hate” states that Betar “openly embraces Islamophobia and harasses Muslims online and in person” and “has indicated that they would like to work with the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group with a history of antisemitism and Islamophobia, to ‘counter Islamic jihadis.’” Levy told JNS that “attempts to label Betar a ‘radical hate group’ are absurd and dangerous...”

Why did the ADL add Betar to thr "glossary of extremism and hate"?

Is the ADL targeting Betar because Betar is doxing pro-Palestinian protesters on campus?

On November 23, 2024 the NY Post reported "A Zionist organization is compiling names of foreign students on visas in the US who spewed anti-Israel bile at campus protests and is hoping President-elect Trump will give the haters a one-way ticket back home. So far, the group, Betar, has about 30 names of students from nations such as Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Canada, and the United Kingdom currently enrolled in some of the nation’s top universities, including Columbia, UPenn, Michigan, Syracuse, UCLA, The New School for Social Research, Carnegie Mellon, and George Washington University. “We have started commencing lists of Jew-hating foreign nationals on visas who support Hamas,” said Ross Glick, director of the US chapter of Betar..."

The ADL's side is clear: it sided with pro-Palestinian protesters and targeted Betar, a zionist group.

On what side of this dispute do you think Mamdani is in?

The ADL is clearly on Mamdani's side, the ADL and Mamdani are brothers in arms against Betar.

Mamdani received funds from Soros, Soros Open Society also funds other anti-Israel groups.

On November 3, 2025 the Gateway Pundit reported "Network of Charities Connected to George Soros Funneled Tens of Millions of Dollars to the Rise of Zohran Mamdani"

Soros also funds 26 Virulent Anti-Israel Groups, those groups also support Mamdani. ZOA reported "Soros Extensively Funds Virulent Anti-Israel Groups: It is a well-documented fact that Soros undercuts Israel at every turn by funding organizations that demonize, defame, and propagandize against Israel, promote anti-Israel boycotts and anti-Israel UN actions, and engage in lawfare against Jews and the Jewish state. NGO Monitor ‘s detailed 2013 report documents how Soros, through Soros’ “Open Society Foundations” (OSF), funds twenty-six (26!!) organizations that are at the forefront of undermining, delegitimizing, spreading false stories about Israel and virulently attacking Israel in every conceivable forum. These Soros-funded anti-Israel groups include Adalah, B’tselem, Breaking the Silence, Yesh Din, Mossawa, the so-called Center for Constitutional Rights, etc. "

ZOA reports that ADL's president "wrongly praised JStreet...supported the anti-Israel Black Lives Matter, wrongly accused fellow Jews of “Islamophobia”...and claimed that the “Palestinian narrative” is “legitimate”...

ZOA reports "Soros’ funding of J Street is telling: J Street repeatedly sides with Israel’s enemies, including by demonizing Israel on campuses and conferences, promoting anti-Israel UN resolutions and boycotts, lobbying for the catastrophic Iran deal, lobbying against pro-Israel U.S. government appointments, lobbying against moving the U.S. embassy to Israel’s capital Jerusalem, and raising funds for anti-Israel Congressional candidates, to name just a few. (See ZOA’s Special Report: “J-Street Sides with Israel’s Enemies & Works to Destroy Support for Israel.) Incidentally, during his speech at J Street’s annual conference, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt wrongly praised J Street as “the front line of defense against BDS and delegitimization.” In fact, J Street honors leaders of the BDS movement, brings BDS leaders to its conferences and college campuses, and supports BDS against the 650,000 Jews living in the Jewish homeland beyond the green line. In his J Street speech, ADL’s Greenblatt also supported the anti-Israel Black Lives Matter, wrongly accused fellow Jews of “Islamophobia” and “marginalizing Palestinians” and claimed that the “Palestinian narrative” is “legitimate” – and more. See “ADL Speech to J St. Wrongly Casts “Equal” Blame on Israel, Promotes Pro-BDS “Black Lives Matter,” Complains about Jewish “Islamophobia,” May 13, 2016.)

Both Mamdani and the ADL are going against the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.

On September 17, 2025 the Combat Antisemitism Movement reported "Mamdani Vows to Scrap IHRA Antisemitism Definition If Elected as New York City Mayor..."

Like Mamdani, the ADL is also going against the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism according to which anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism. Arutz 7 reported "...the recent adoption of a working definition of anti-Semitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) -- a body whose purpose is to promote Holocaust education, remembrance and research -- is hugely important. The agreement of all thirty one member countries of the IHRA was required to approve this definition. This working definition reads: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” This summary text is accompanied by a much longer explanation. One important element of it is that it also includes discriminatory manifestations targeting the state of Israel, “conceived as a Jewish collectivity...”

On April 22, 2025 Arutz 7 reported "ADL: Growth in antisemitism in US fueled by anti-Zionism..."

The ADL's departure from the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism according to which anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, its attempt to draw a distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism has a reason: it is because the ADL is "demanding an expansion of legal protections" for campus anti-Semites.

In April the ADL was "demanding an expansion of legal protections" for campus anti-Semites something that Mamdani would have supported.

On April 10, 2025 Morton A. Klein & Elizabeth Berney wrote in ZOA.ORG "Every Jewish organization should be applauding the Trump administration’s actions to end the nightmares faced by Jewish students. Instead, two major representative organizations, Hillel and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), are undermining deportations and defunding, the crucial steps needed to protect our Jewish and pro-Israel students and, by effect, all students who want safe campuses. Hillel and the ADL have joined a chorus that includes the enemies of Israel and the Jewish people in demanding an expansion of legal protections for the Jew-hating, Israel-bashing perpetrators harming Jewish students...

"...while the organized Jewish community should be celebrating that the administration is taking major steps to hold those attacking our children and grandchildren on campus accountable, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt and Hillel CEO Adam Lehman are decrying those defending us.

"On April 3, Greenblatt began a press campaign to decry Trump’s protective measures to protect our children. He demanded the federal government and universities provide protections for foreigners terrorizing our Jewish students above and beyond what the US Constitution and due process actually require. Greenblatt asserted, regarding giving more legal rights to the Hamas-allied thugs: “It’s not just about the letter of the law, but the spirit of our country.”

"Since when is enabling violent antisemites “the spirit of our country”? He seems to want to provide foreign antisemitic terrorizers facing deportation all the rights (and then some) accorded to criminal defendants.

"However, as the US Supreme Court made clear, a deportation proceeding is a civil proceeding that does not entitle deportees to all the same Constitutional Rights that defendants in criminal cases are entitled to. (INS v. Lopez-Mendoza, 468 U.S. 1032 (1984))...

"Similarly, Hillel’s CEO Lehman wrote on April 2 that he understood “concerns” about implementing deportations and university defunding, and absurdly complained that “actions to combat campus antisemitism can inadvertently fuel further antisemitism.” In other words, any form of defense of Jews from violent antisemites will fuel further hate...Anyone who really wants to build stronger campuses for Jewish and all students should start by supporting the Trump administration’s policies to make campuses safe again..."

The ADL is not what it used to be. ZOA and others have denounced ADL’s far-left advocacy. On September 12, 2022 ZOA condemned the ADL for "departures from ADL’s primary stated mission of combatting antisemitism." ZOA reported "Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein and ZOA Director of Research and Special Projects Liz Berney, Esq. released the following statement:

" A recent Fox News investigation found that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)’s educational and “anti-bias” programs, which influence millions of American children and thousands of educators and officials, promote far-left and critical race theory (CRT) concepts such as “white privilege” and “systemic racism,” and promote groups such as the Women’s March and BLM – despite the virulent Jew-hating, Israel-hating and pro-Farrakhan positions of the Women’s March leaders and BLM/M4BL organization.

"The investigation also found that these harmful ADL programs characterize denying white privilege as a “biased attitude”; encourage white students to view themselves as “oppressors”; and include an article indicating that white women are “justly seen as oppressive” and “enjoy unearned skin privilege,” etc, etc.

" Unfortunately, this is nothing new. After Obama senior advisor Jonathan Greenblatt became ADL’s CEO in 2015, Greenblatt “refocused” ADL on far-left partisan political, legal and educational advocacy. For years, ZOA and others have raised alarm bells about ADL’s and Greenblatt’s dangerous far-left advocacy and numerous departures from ADL’s primary stated mission of combatting antisemitism..."

Ezequiel Doiny is author of "Obama's assault on Jerusalem's Western Wall" and "Jerusalem is the Spiritual capital of Judaism while Mecca is the Spiritual Capital of Islam”