Mamdani kept his support for Jeffries as House speaker, drawing criticism from progressives over his meeting with Jared Kushner.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed his support for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Monday, telling a reporter he “continues to support Congressman Jeffries and his bid to become the leader” if Democrats retake the House this fall.

The comment landed at a delicate moment for Jeffries, who spent the weekend fielding criticism over a private meeting with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and White House envoy.

Mamdani’s answer set off a wave of frustration among figures on the party’s left flank who had claimed him as their standard-bearer. Kshama Sawant, a socialist organizer and former Seattle city council member, wrote on social media that Mamdani “continues to support genocidal Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker” despite the Kushner meeting. She argued the Democratic Socialists of America’s strategy of working inside the Democratic Party is not working.

  • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
    332·
    13 hours ago

    There would be ZERO point to pick a fight and burn bridges with Jeffries right now. Similar to what a speaker with a 4th-grade speech level said, “Nothing good can happen, it can only bad.”

    • We’re past Democratic Primaries.
    • We’re less than 60 days out from November midterm elections.
    • All that matters is unity against the Republican threat.

    If he still maintains this after a hypothetical election sweep, then I may care.

    This is basically the flipped-around equivalent of Jeffries begrudgingly endorsing Mamdani after he was the nominee.