New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday night that his wife will not receive police security during her visit to the Middle East, according to Israel Hayom. Mamdani blamed his staff for a misunderstanding with senior police officials, who were reportedly furious over the request to escort the mayor's wife to a war zone.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday night that his wife will not receive police security during her visit to the Middle East, following a day of controversy over the use of taxpayer-funded NYPD resources. Mamdani attributed the incident to a misunderstanding by his staff, according to a report cited by Israel Hayom. Police officials were said to be furious over the request to escort the mayor's wife to what they termed a war zone.
The story unfolded during the day. At 06:13 Jerusalem Tuesday, The Zioneer first reported an unconfirmed report that the mayor's wife planned to travel to Syria and Lebanon with police security at public expense. Shortly after, the NYPD denied any plan to provide an escort. A subsequent New York Post report, also at 06:13 Jerusalem, confirmed that taxpayer funds were financing the security detail. The thread shifted from an unconfirmed claim, to an official denial, to confirmation of funding – and then, Tuesday night, to the mayor's cancellation.
The episode occurs against a backdrop of strained relations between Mamdani and both Israeli leaders and the NYPD. As The Zioneer has reported over recent weeks, Mamdani called for protests against Prime Minister Netanyahu, was labeled a "terrorism supporter" by Netanyahu, and was forced to flee an NYPD event in early August after a hostile reception. President Herzog warned that Mamdani's rhetoric endangers his own citizens. The NYPD had also prepared an unusual security operation for Netanyahu's expected New York visit, citing concerns over Mamdani's statements.
It remains unclear whether the mayor's wife will proceed with her Middle East trip without police security, and whether the attribution of the controversy to a staff misunderstanding will resolve the reported tension between the mayor's office and senior NYPD officials.
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