Harmeet Dhillon Blasts Mamdani as “Antisemitic Demagogue” at Israel Hayom Summit

MANHATTAN — Speaking Tuesday at the Israel Hayom Summit, held at the Hilton Hotel, U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon delivered a forceful address on rising antisemitism and directly labeled New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani an “antisemitic demagogue.” She warned that if New York City fails to protect its Jewish residents, federal authorities “will step in.”

Dhillon said her division’s mandate is to confront antisemitism wherever it appears — on campuses, in public spaces, and at houses of worship — and emphasized the administration’s “zero-tolerance” approach.

Trump DOJ official Harmeet Dhillon calls Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani "an antisemitic demagogue" at a pro-Israel summit in New York City.

The Trump official’s remarks diverge from Trump himself, who defended Mamdani against Republicans like Elise Stefanik calling him a "jihadist." https://t.co/rUVXRqJuCc pic.twitter.com/4jZ1C4jMNA

— Prem Thakker (@prem_thakker) December 2, 2025

She described continued instability on major campuses despite federal agreements with institutions such as Columbia and Northwestern. “I cannot say campuses are completely safe,” Dhillon noted, pointing to ongoing issues at Harvard and even a reported assault on a Jewish student after compliance steps were taken. She said longstanding hostility toward Jews “won’t vanish overnight,” but insisted federal commitment is unwavering.

Dhillon recounted entering office to find Jewish students and families who felt ignored by prior leadership, especially after October 7. She called reports of professors and students blocking Jewish students from classrooms “unthinkable” and said they demanded a strong federal response.

She highlighted recent Justice Department efforts to prosecute threats and attacks targeting synagogues, citing cases in New York and New Jersey. If local officials fall short, she said, federal investigators are already prepared to escalate.

Dhillon added that the department is scrutinizing funding sources behind extremist networks. “If money is coming from foreign actors or shadowy organizations, that raises serious concerns. Terror financing is a crime,” she said.

Addressing violent incidents, she referenced a Washington-area case being prosecuted as a hate crime and confirmed several antisemitic attacks on Jewish homes in New Jersey remain under federal review.

Dhillon stressed that antisemitism surfaces across the political spectrum. Regarding far-right extremist speech, she argued the best countermeasure is not censorship but public rejection. “The answer to speech you don’t like is more speech,” she said, urging Americans to drown out hateful rhetoric. “Nothing is guaranteed — citizens must speak up because government is not all-powerful.”