Pelosi Slams El-Sayed Over Israel, Then Backs Him for Senate

Pelosi’s office subsequently confirmed that she remains committed to supporting El-Sayed in his closely watched Senate race against former Republican congressman Mike Rogers.

By United with Israel Staff

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed for refusing to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, calling their position “wrong.”

But despite the rebuke, Pelosi’s office later confirmed that she still supports El-Sayed’s Senate campaign.

Speaking Thursday on the “On Brand with Donny Deutsch” podcast, Pelosi was challenged over growing antisemitism and hostility toward Israel among figures on the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

“When you say Israel doesn’t have the right to be a Jewish state, that’s antisemitic as far as I’m concerned,” Deutsch, who is Jewish and a lifelong Democrat, told Pelosi.

When Pelosi asked whom he was referring to, Deutsch named Mamdani and El-Sayed, both of whom have declined to affirm Israel’s right to exist specifically as a Jewish nation-state.

“No, it’s more than concerning. It’s wrong,” Pelosi responded, stressing that neither politician currently serves in Congress and distancing congressional Democrats from their positions.

Pelosi also acknowledged disagreements with Mamdani, while wishing him success as New York City’s mayor.

“The mayor, bless his heart, I hope he succeeds as mayor,” she said.

Pelosi’s office subsequently clarified, however, that her criticism did not extend to opposing El-Sayed’s Senate bid.

Her spokesperson, Nicholas Martin, told the New York Post on Friday that Pelosi continues to support the Democratic nominee, saying that while she “may disagree with him on some issues,” she remained committed to working with him on other Democratic priorities.

El-Sayed, who defeated Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s Democratic primary in August, faces former Republican congressman Mike Rogers in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate races.

A former public health official, El-Sayed has made opposition to US military assistance to Israel a major part of his foreign policy platform and recently questioned whether Israel should even be considered an American ally.

“An ally that takes your money to push you into wars you shouldn’t be fighting is not an ally,” El-Sayed told ABC News last month.

He also declined to unequivocally affirm Israel’s right to exist when questioned on CBS’ “60 Minutes” on Sunday, instead saying he supported peace, dignity and self-determination for Palestinians and Jewish Israelis through a mutually agreed two-state solution or another political arrangement.

Mamdani has taken a similar position on Israel’s Jewish identity.

During a June ABC interview, he said he supported Israel’s existence “as a state with equal rights,” but refused to endorse its status as a Jewish state, arguing that he could not support a country privileging one religion over another.

Mamdani has rejected accusations of antisemitism, but his record on Israel has repeatedly angered Jewish and pro-Israel groups. During his 2025 mayoral campaign, he refused to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.” After taking office in January, he rescinded several Israel-related executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams, including measures addressing anti-Israel boycotts and antisemitism.

Pelosi’s comments amount to a rare public rebuke of two prominent figures on the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

Yet they also expose the limits of that criticism: Pelosi says refusing to recognize Israel as a Jewish state is wrong, but she still wants Michigan voters to send El-Sayed to the Senate.