Pelosi Calls El-Sayed’s Israel Comments Wrong

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Democrat running for Senate, for his comments about whether Israel should be a Jewish state, calling his position “wrong” during an October 29 appearance on the On Brand podcast. She also addressed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s comments on the issue.

Host Donny Deutsch told Pelosi that he viewed opposition to Israel being a Jewish state as antisemitic and asked how Jewish Americans could support Democrats who held such views. After Deutsch named El-Sayed and Mamdani, Pelosi said their comments went beyond being concerning. She added that El-Sayed would have to win election to Congress, and said she hoped Mamdani would succeed as mayor while disagreeing with some of his statements.

Pelosi said the views did not reflect congressional Democrats, adding that House members distance themselves from such remarks. Earlier in the conversation, she said she did not know of Democrats in Congress engaged in antisemitism, while allowing that some statements could be interpreted that way.

El-Sayed has declined to endorse Israel as a Jewish state. He has said he opposes the idea of an ethnostate and has argued that criticizing Israel’s actions is not the same as antisemitism. In an earlier interview, he said his commitment to Jewish safety was equal to his commitment to the safety of his children.

Mamdani has said he backs Israel as a country offering equal rights, yet cannot support a state that privileges one religion. Pelosi said her criticism of the two politicians did not represent the views of the Democratic Party as a whole.

Pelosi’s Israel Rebuke Puts Party Unity Ahead of El-Sayed

Nancy Pelosi used an October 29 podcast appearance to condemn Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s comments on Israel, saying they were wrong and did not represent congressional Democrats. Her intervention adds to the pressure on a candidate who has argued that opposition to an ethnostate is not antisemitism.

Asked by host Donny Deutsch about El-Sayed and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Pelosi said their comments were more than concerning. She wished Mamdani success as mayor but said she disagreed with some of his statements. Pelosi also said House Democrats distance themselves from remarks like those under discussion.

El-Sayed has declined to affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He has said he objects to the idea of an ethnostate, and has rejected equating criticism of Israel’s actions with antisemitism. He has also said his commitment to Jewish safety is as strong as his commitment to the safety of his own children.

Pelosi earlier said she did not know of Democrats in Congress engaged in antisemitism, while acknowledging that some lawmakers might say things that could be interpreted that way. Her comments framed the debate around Israel as a test of party representation, even as El-Sayed’s stated position distinguishes criticism of a state’s structure from hostility toward Jewish people. Pelosi said the views she criticized were not the consensus of congressional Democrats.

Pelosi Rejects El-Sayed’s Israel Position as Wrong

Nancy Pelosi delivered a clear rebuke of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s position on Israel, calling it wrong during an October 29 podcast appearance. Her comments put a prominent Democrat on record challenging a candidate who has repeatedly declined to say Israel should be a Jewish state.

Host Donny Deutsch raised concerns about El-Sayed and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Pelosi said the remarks were more than concerning and stressed that they did not represent Democrats in Congress. She added that House members distance themselves from statements like those being discussed.

El-Sayed has said he opposes the idea of an ethnostate and disputes that criticism of Israel’s actions amounts to antisemitism. In a separate interview, he said his commitment to Jewish safety matched his commitment to the safety of his children. Mamdani has said he backs Israel as a country offering equal rights, yet cannot support a state that privileges one religion.

Pelosi’s criticism was notable alongside her earlier comment that she did not know of Democrats in Congress engaged in antisemitism, though she acknowledged that some statements might be interpreted that way. She said she hoped Mamdani succeeded as mayor while disagreeing with some of his remarks, and made clear that she did not regard the positions she criticized as representative of congressional Democrats.