Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., has publicly criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, labeling him a "clown" for his remarks concerning Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a potential arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Fetterman's comments, highlighted in Fox News' "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter, targeted Mamdani's stance on Israel. The newsletter also noted Mamdani's resurfaced remarks describing Israel as "an idea" rather than a country, which drew criticism from various groups.
The Pennsylvania senator stated that Mamdani's suggestion to arrest Netanyahu in New York was "empty posturing" and advised the mayor to focus on local issues. "He's just a clown to even say that, so he won't try that. Just sit down and focus on other problems that they have in New York. That's really not your purview. You and I know that. Sit down," Fetterman said.
Fetterman also indicated that a formal anti-Israel stance would lead him to consider leaving the Democratic Party, though he has no current plans to do so.
The "Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter also addressed claims by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that Palestinian soccer players targeted in strikes were affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups. The IDF identified 11 deceased players, alleging some had ties to the October 7th attacks.
Additionally, the newsletter mentioned a controversy surrounding a movie theater marquee in Oregon that displayed a message critics deemed antisemitic in relation to the film "The Odyssey."