October 01, 2025
Back to all stories

Mamdani Pressed on 'Defund' Remarks, Asked if He Apologized to NYPD

Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and front‑runner in the New York City mayoral race, was pressed on ABC's The View about prior rhetoric supporting 'defund the police' and whether he had apologized to New York police officers. Co‑host Alyssa Farah Griffin cited past comments calling the NYPD "racist" and "anti‑queer," asked for a formal apology, and Mamdani said he has been speaking individually with rank‑and‑file officers and attributed previous positions to "growth and understanding." The exchange drew supportive remarks from co‑host Whoopi Goldberg and adds to scrutiny of Mamdani's policing posture on the campaign trail.

Politics Elections

🔍 Key Facts

  • Event: Mamdani interviewed on ABC's The View; Alyssa Farah Griffin asked whether he had apologized to NYPD officers for prior anti‑police rhetoric.
  • Candidate response: Mamdani said he speaks with officers individually, credited "growth and understanding" for walking back past calls to defund the police, and referenced cases such as the Central Park Five and George Floyd in explaining his evolution.
  • Media reaction: Co‑host Whoopi Goldberg commended Mamdani for admitting personal growth; the segment contributes to ongoing national coverage of his mayoral campaign.

📍 Contextual Background

  • Alyssa Farah Griffin is a co-host of ABC's television program The View.
  • Whoopi Goldberg is a co-host of ABC's television program The View.
  • Zohran Mamdani appeared on ABC's The View in an interview that is dated in the article to 2025-05-16.