JERUSALEM (VINnews) – U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Tuesday sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accusing him of promoting antisemitism after the mayor posted a video calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urging the federal government to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if Netanyahu visits New York City.

In a post on X, Huckabee rejected suggestions that Mamdani’s remarks stemmed from ignorance, writing that the mayor is “an evil anti-Semite” who “deliberately lies about serious things like ‘genocide’ to stoke Jew hate.”

Huckabee also said that “if anyone should be arrested, it’s the Mayor of NY for incitement,” adding that “NYC should be ashamed.”

Would be easy to say NY Mayor is just an ignorant bigot, but he is not dumb. He's an evil anti-Semite who deliberately lies about serious things like "genocide" to stoke Jew hate. If anyone should be arrested, it's the Mayor of NY for incitement. NYC should be ashamed. https://t.co/II04aOSzJU

— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) July 22, 2026

Mamdani has defended his comments by arguing that public officials have a responsibility to speak out on human rights issues and has said the federal government—not New York City—would have the authority to enforce the ICC warrant.

The exchange is the latest escalation in the ongoing political dispute over the war in Gaza and Netanyahu, whose criticism by Mamdani has drawn praise from supporters and condemnation from Jewish organizations and several elected officials.