Jeff Miller, chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, has invited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum after Mamdani repeatedly used the term "genocide" to describe the situation in Gaza.
Mamdanis's use of the word has drawn criticism from the Jewish community, with Miller posting on X that if the mayor "truly want[s] to understand what genocide looks like," he would be happy to arrange a personal tour.
"Words matter, especially from elected leaders," Miller stated, adding that "rhetoric that demonizes Israel and the Jewish state has consequences." He expressed hope that Mamdani was not "purposely trying to normalize antisemitism" and urged him to "learn what genocide actually means."
Miller told Fox News Digital that he felt an "obligation" to speak up and reiterated his offer. "If the Mayor wants to repeatedly invoke that word, I invite him to come with me to the Holocaust Museum and confront what genocide actually looked like: the systematic attempt to annihilate an entire people," Miller said. He also suggested Mamdani visit Rwanda or another site of genocide to listen to survivors if he was unwilling to visit the Washington D.C. museum.
Mamdani has not publicly responded to Miller's invitation. His office did not respond to multiple inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding whether the mayor intends to accept the offer.
Mamdani has faced significant backlash for his stance on Israel since entering the mayoral race. He has frequently drawn the ire of the Jewish community with comments calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his consistent accusations of genocide in Gaza following the October 7th Hamas attacks.
Last week, Mamdani stated in a video announcement that his administration was exploring the city's legal authority to arrest Netanyahu, who he called a "war criminal" and "the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people." Mamdani acknowledged he does not have the authority to make such an arrest, referencing an International Criminal Court warrant that the United States does not recognize. He cited the deaths of over 73,000 people, the maiming of children, the targeting of hospitals, and the denial of aid as reasons for his statements.
Miller's invitation gained support on social media, with Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida and billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman echoing the sentiment and urging Mamdani to take up the offer to visit the Holocaust Museum.