Bill Maher Mocks NYC Mayor for 'Tone Deaf' Oct. 7 Statement

Comedian Bill Maher criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his statement marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. During an episode of HBO's "Real Time," Maher described Mamdani's remarks as "tone deaf" for pivoting from acknowledging the attack's pain to condemning Israeli actions in Gaza.

Mamdani's statement characterized Oct. 7 as a "profoundly painful" day for New Yorkers and stated the city grieves with those who have suffered loss. However, he also wrote that the suffering continued through Israel's "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children." He further stated that "many New Yorkers are reckoning with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them—all while knowing that our tax dollars fund these war crimes." Mamdani also called for refusing to accept a world where occupation and apartheid continue, and where war crimes are met with impunity.

Maher, referencing Mamdani's past career as a rapper, quipped that the mayor's rap name could be "Tone Deaf." The comedian suggested that Mamdani's statement implied that "Israel made them do it" in reference to the Oct. 7 attacks.

Mamdani has faced other criticisms recently, including dining at Ayat Hinds Hall, a Palestinian restaurant whose sister location faced scrutiny in 2023 over menu language described as antisemitic. The sister restaurant had featured the phrase "Down with the occupation" on its menu, which the owner stated appeared before the Oct. 7 attack.

Despite the backlash, some analysts suggest Mamdani's statement could serve a political purpose by appealing to his progressive base. Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff told Fox News Digital that such a statement could be a tactic to placate supporters who have criticized Mamdani for actions such as protecting Benjamin Netanyahu and not disbanding the Strategic Response Group. According to Shroff, Maher's criticism might inadvertently help Mamdani by energizing his base, who may see the backlash as a sign that the mayor remains aligned with their views.