NEW YORK (VINnews) – Rep. Ilhan Omar criticized comedian Jerry Seinfeld after a video of his exchange with a pro-Palestinian activist outside Madison Square Garden went viral on social media.

The video, recorded after the New York Knicks’ playoff victory Wednesday night, shows a streamer asking Seinfeld to say “Free Palestine.” Seinfeld responded, “It doesn’t exist,” before walking away.

Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, later commented on the exchange during an interview with TMZ, calling Seinfeld’s remarks “disgusting” and “disturbing” while reiterating her criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Seinfeld, who is Jewish, has been a vocal supporter of Israel and has frequently spoken out against antisemitism since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

The brief encounter quickly spread online, drawing reactions from both supporters and critics and highlighting the continued divisions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The straightforward truth-telling quickly went viral, earning praise from those who reject the fictional narrative of a “Palestine” that never existed as a sovereign Arab state. In contrast, Omar — who has repeatedly trafficked in antisemitic tropes and defended anti-Israel extremism — rushed to condemn Seinfeld in the strongest terms.

Speaking to TMZ, the Minnesota Democrat launched into a familiar tirade, calling Seinfeld a “horrific human being” and smearing Israel’s defensive actions against Hamas as “genocide.” Omar described his comments as “very disgusting, very disturbing, and very genocidal,” while accusing him of prioritizing Jewish lives over others.