New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced widespread mockery from conservatives after posting a video acknowledging he lacks the legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite having previously made the pledge a feature of his campaign. The admission undercuts a high-profile promise Mamdani made while running for office, prompting accusations that he had overpromised and was now backtracking under scrutiny.

In the video, viewed more than 36 million times on X, Mamdani branded Netanyahu a "war criminal" and told him he was "not welcome in New York City", while calling on federal authorities and the International Criminal Court to pursue his arrest instead. The episode has deepened a public feud between Mamdani and Netanyahu, drawn accusations of antisemitism against the mayor, and exposed divisions among Democrats, with some, including Rep Rashida Tlaib, voicing support while others distanced themselves from the stance.