Zohran Mamdani gives word-salad answer on why he still hasn’t apologized to NYPD — as insiders say he’s afraid to upset DSA backers
Mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani spewed more word salad about why he still hasn’t offered his promised apology to the NYPD — with sources suggesting he doesn’t want to upset his Democratic Socialists of America comrades.
The increasingly mealy-mouthed Mamdani claimed Monday — 18 days after he vowed to publicly make amends for cops NYPD “racist” in 2020 — that he has been saying sorry to rank-and-file cops as he meets them.
🎬 Get Free Netflix Logins
Claim your free working Netflix accounts for streaming in HD! Limited slots available for active users only.
- No subscription required
- Works on mobile, PC & smart TV
- Updated login details daily
“The thing that I have appreciated the most in conversations around policing is the conversations I’ve had with rank-and-file officers,” he said during an unrelated press conference in Inwood. “Those are the conversations where I share my reflections about where we are in this moment, where we’ve been, and also what it will mean to build together to deliver that publicity.”
Insiders said the Democratic nominee aversion to straight answers is because he wants to avoid ticking off DSA backers whose help he needs to get elected.
“It’s super easy to apologize,” one Democratic operative said, before noting, “It’s super hard for him because of the DSA.
“I think it’s that, and also he still believes what he said. He still believes that the NYPD is an occupying force that perpetuates state violence against people of color.”
Another Democratic operative who has worked on mayoral campaigns said Mamdani’s inability to offer public repentance was unbefitting a potential resident of Gracie Mansion.
“If he can’t bring himself to apologize to the very people that are literally protecting him because of DSA lunatics, he should drop out like Eric Adams,” the source said.
“The next mayor’s meandering avoidance of giving a straight answer on a simple question should alarm New Yorkers about how he is going to govern this city with far more complex problems.”
The waiting game for Mamdani’s apology began in earnest when the New York Times reported more than two weeks ago that he intended to apologize for his past anti-cop comments — similar to how he shed his “defund the police” stance.
He said his comments were made “at the height of frustration” against law enforcement amid 2020’s protests over the murder of George Floyd and contended his views on police had changed.
By Monday, all Mamdani could offer was a convoluted non-answer on his non-apology.
When pressed on whether he was apologizing to individual officers during the chats he said he’d been having with cops, Mamdani replied: “I’m saying that these are conversations that I’m having right now with these officers.”
Police union leaders who were part of a coalition that backed Mayor Eric Adams’ now-defunct re-election bid said they hadn’t heard from Mamdani or his campaign.
Mamdani said he’ll be “planning to reach out to police unions” as the electoral clock winds down.
A spokesperson for the Police Benevolent Association, which reps rank-and-file NYPD officers, said the union has no plans to meet with Mamdani before November’s election.
“We’re not interested in hearing more campaign promises from office-seekers,” said Patrick Hendry, the union’s president. “We’re interested in seeing action from elected officials. An apology will not improve police officers’ quality of life.”
Scott Munro, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, said Mamdani’s camp knows how to contact him.
“I don’t even know,” Munro said when asked if he’d even meet with Mamdani without an apology.
“We know how he feels about law enforcement,” he said. “This whole thing is a s–t show.”
Mamdani answer also drew mockery from Rich Azzopardi, spokesman for electoral rival Andrew Cuomo.
“Give me a break, he’s giving out drive-by apologies now?” Azzopardi said. “It’s a pathetic and insincere answer just like every answer he’s given this election cycle.”
— Additional reporting by Larry Celona
Let’s be honest—no matter how stressful the day gets, a good viral video can instantly lift your mood. Whether it’s a funny pet doing something silly, a heartwarming moment between strangers, or a wild dance challenge, viral videos are what keep the internet fun and alive.