Bill Maher ridicules NYC Mayor Mamdani’s Israel-Gaza remarks on anniversary

During a recent broadcast of “Real Time,” Bill Maher took aim at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for a statement marking the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Mamdani described the day as deeply painful for many New Yorkers and then condemned Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, citing civilian death figures. Maher ridiculed the mayor’s pivot to blaming Israel, even joking about Mamdani’s past rap moniker “Tone Deaf.”

The controversy was heightened by Mamdani’s recent visit to Ayat Hinds Hall, a Palestinian eatery linked to a sister restaurant that had been criticized for antisemitic menu language. Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff argued that Maher’s criticism could paradoxically solidify Mamdani’s appeal to his core supporters. No comment was received from the mayor’s office.