Press Sec Unloads On Mamdani Over Disastrous Hamas Question

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt unloaded on New York City’s Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, commenting on his inability to answer a straight question about Hamas during his recent interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum.

Leavitt, speaking on Thursday with “America Reports” anchors Sandra Smith and John Roberts, specifically addressed Mamdani’s refusal to say that Hamas terrorists should lay down their arms, refrain from killing Palestinian civilians, and step aside so that the Trump administration-brokered peace deal in Gaza can find footing.

WATCH:

.@PressSec on Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to call on Hamas to lay down its arms: “This interview proved that the Democrat Party’s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals — that is who the Democrat Party is catering to.” pic.twitter.com/wUPEt6rowS

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 16, 2025

“Well, that’s a classic case of ‘I don’t want to answer the question because I know it’s wildly unpopular,'” Leavitt observed, adding, “And the Democrat Party — this interview proved that the Democrat Party’s main constituencies are made up of Hamas terrorists, illegal aliens, and violent criminals — that is who the Democrat Party is catering to.”

“Not the Trump administration, not the White House, and not the Republican Party, who is standing up for law-abiding Americans — not just across the country but around the world, and that’s why President Trump worked so hard to end this conflict in the Middle East,” Leavitt continued. “It was President Trump who brought home the last living hostages out of Gaza.”

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“It’s President Trump who is actually pushing for peace. I would like to add, where are all the ‘Free Palestine’ protesters?” she added, noting that Trump was the one who had paved the way for Gaza to be free.

The interview that sparked the conversation, which aired live on Wednesday’s broadcast of “The Story,” took a turn when MacCallum asked Mamdani about Hamas terrorists killing Palestinian civilians in Gaza even as the first phase of the peace deal was still unfolding.

“Do you believe that Hamas should lay down their weapons, and leave the leadership in Gaza?” she asked.

“I believe that any future here in New York City is one that we have to make sure that’s affordable for all. And as it pertains to Israel and Palestine, that we need to ensure that there is peace, and that is the future that we fight for,” Mamdani replied.

“But you won’t say that Hamas should lay down their arms and give up leadership in Gaza?” MacCallum asked again.

“I don’t really have opinions about the future of Hamas and Israel beyond the question of justice and safety, and the fact that anything has to abide by international law. And that applies to Hamas, that applies to the Israeli military, applies to anyone you could ask me about,” was Mamdani’s response.