‘The View’ Co-Host Alyssa Farah Griffin Presses Zohran Mamdani On His Anti-Police Rhetoric

“The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin pressed Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday about his previous anti-police rhetoric.

Mamdani accused the New York Police Department (NYPD) of being “wicked,” “corrupt,” “racist,” and a threat to New Yorkers’ public safety in a series of X posts throughout 2020. Since Mamdani has walked back these claims, Griffin asked him whether he can be trusted to actually be true to his word on not defunding or disrespecting local law enforcement.

“Back in 2020, you call for defunding the police. Something that you have since walked back. You also called the NYPD racist, anti-queer and a threat to public safety in 2020, but now agree they deserve an apology. You initially refused to denounce highly charged rhetoric related to Israel, then later said you would discourage its use. How can New Yorkers trust you and not be concerned that consultants are getting in your ear to get you elected but still hold all of those positions?” Griffin asked.

“Well, they can rest assured that it isn’t consultants in my ear,” Mamdani said. “And I think this is apart of, to be a young person looking to lead, is also to leave the opening for growth and understanding. And I can tell you, growing up in this city, I thought often about safety and justice and I saw how justice was often left aside. Whether it was the Central Park Five, whether it was Sean Bell, whether it was Eric Garner, whether it was watching the news of Michael Brown and then in 2020, to see the murder of George Floyd, it felt as if there had never been a wider catechism in my life between those things. And after that, after becoming an assembly member and learning about the ways in which you deliver justice by intertwining it with safety can’t be done alone.”

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Mamdani further said he will represent all law enforcement officers in the city and black people who have allegedly “been the victims of police brutality.” He said that he has not given a formal apology to the NYPD, but has spoken to officers individually.