Hochul Demands Mamdani Apologize to New York Police Department Over ‘Racist’ Remarks

Governor Kathy Hochul directly called on mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to issue an apology to the New York City Police Department for remarks he made in 2020 labeling the force “racist” and “a major threat to public safety.” Speaking Friday, Hochul offered her most pointed criticism yet of the Queens assemblyman, saying plainly, “I believe an apology is in order.”

Mamdani had told The New York Times a day earlier that he would apologize to city officers, admitting that his earlier comments came “at the height of frustration” during the nationwide protests that followed George Floyd’s murder. At the time, Mamdani wrote on social media: “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”

When pressed by the Times about whether he owed the police an apology, Mamdani initially hesitated but ultimately answered, “Yes.”

Although the promised apology has yet to materialize, Hochul still credited him for acknowledging the need to repair relations.

“I have a lot of respect for him for saying that and that he is going to do what he can to earn the respect of the men or women of the NYPD,” Hochul said while promoting state funding for law enforcement with a SWAT vehicle behind her. “I respect them immensely. I’ve seen them in action. So I think it’s an appropriate response.”

Mamdani, who shocked the political establishment with his primary win in June, has since walked back his earlier “defund the police” messaging, particularly after the July killing of Officer Didarul Islam. His social media posts from 2020 included lines such as, “Together, we can tax the rich, heal the sick, house the poor, defund the police & build a socialist New York” and “We need a socialist city council to defund the police.”

More recently, he has stressed that those statements reflected a moment of widespread anger. “My statements in 2020 were made amidst a frustration that many New Yorkers held at the murder of George Floyd,” he explained in July.

Hochul, who is campaigning for re-election next year, has not endorsed Mamdani and continues to distance herself from parts of his progressive platform. Earlier this week on Bloomberg TV, she repeated her commitment to protecting high earners from increased income taxes.

“I’ve said I don’t want to raise income taxes on high-net-worth people. I want them to know that New York is a place where we want to foster innovation. Be open to your success,” she said.

Other political figures have also weighed in on Mamdani’s remarks. Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, dismissed the idea of a simple apology as sufficient.

“Apologizing to police is more than verbal,” Adams said. “Apologize for the failure of coming up with a real public safety practice. You can’t just verbalize this.”

Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf suggested Hochul’s approach was politically calculated. He told the Post:

“She can’t afford to have cops coming at her next year,” he said, warning that Mamdani’s rhetoric could energize Republicans. “Every time Mamdani opens his mouth he creates a Republican on Long Island. If she goes with Mamdani, the GOP will get 30% of New York City vote.”

Ryan Adams, co-founder of HQZ Consulting, echoed that view, telling the Post that Hochul is navigating pressure from both wings of her party.

“Kathy Hochul has been very smart lately. She’s seen what’s coming from the right but now sees what’s coming on the left,” he noted, adding that even without police endorsements, “she doesn’t want to seem anti-police in this moment.”

Hochul Demands Mamdani Apologize to New York Police Department Over ‘Racist’ Remarks