Prominent Holocaust museum challenges Mamdani with offer in response to claims about 'genocide' in Gaza

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is yet to publicly respond to an invitation from a prominent Holocaust museum to visit in order to "truly understand" what "genocide looks like" as he faces criticism from the Jewish community for repeatedly using that label to describe the situation in Gaza.

"You keep using the word ‘genocide’ when talking about Israel," Jeff Miller, chair of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, posted on X on Friday, inviting Mamdani to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

"If you truly want to understand what genocide looks like, as Chairman of the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, I would be happy to personally arrange a tour of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for you."

Miller was responding to a post from the UJA-Federation of New York expressing grief over a pair of recent stabbings in New York City carried out by an attacker who allegedly yelled "Allahu Akbar" during the attacks. Authorities say one of the victims is Jewish, and the attack is being investigated as a hate crime. 

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a rally in New York alongside 1199SEIU members and immigration advocates after the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration can revoke protections for Haitians and Syrians. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Miller’s post went on to say that "words matter especially from elected leaders" and that "rhetoric that demonizes Israel and the Jewish state has consequences."

"I hope you are simply ignoring the impact of your words and not purposely trying to normalize antisemitism," Miller wrote. "My invitation is sincere. Come to the Museum. Learn what genocide actually means. "

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office multiple times inquiring whether the mayor intends to take Miller up on his offer but did not receive a response.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said his administration is exploring whether the city has legal authority to arrest Netanyahu if he visits for the U.N. General Assembly. (Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Miller told Fox News Digital that he felt an "obligation" to speak up and that he would be "happy" to personally walk Mamdani through the museum.

"If the Mayor wants to repeatedly invoke that word, I invite him to come with me to the Holocaust Museum and confront what genocide actually looked like: the systematic attempt to annihilate an entire people," Miller said. "If he does not want to come to our Museum, he should visit Rwanda or another place whose people have endured genocide and listen to survivors."

Miller added that Mamdani is free to "criticize the Israeli government" and disagree with policies, "but there is a profound difference between legitimate criticism of a government and rhetoric that demonizes the world’s only Jewish state and helps normalize hostility toward Jews."

Miller’s invitation was celebrated by many on social media, including Republican Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who posted on X that he hopes Mamdani takes the offer.

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"The US Holocaust Memorial Museum — where I proudly serve on the Council — is an important institution that shows the truth about what happened," Scott wrote. "I urge anyone visiting Washington, DC to stop by. "

"The @NYCMayor Mamdani should take up the Chairman’s offer for a tour of the Holocaust Museum so he understands what is genocide," billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted on X.

Mamdani has faced intense criticism for his position on Israel since jumping into the mayoral race last year and since taking office, he has often angered the Jewish community with comments calling for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and repeatedly accusing Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza after the October 7th Hamas terrorist attack.

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"Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people," Mamdani said last week in a video announcement that he did not have the authority to arrest Netanyahu in accordance with an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant, a warrant the United States does not recognize.

"He is responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children as those who survive undergo amputation without anesthesia. For the targeting of neonatal hospitals and maternity care centers, denying newborns even the chance to live. For the countless people he starved as he blocked food and humanitarian aid from reaching them. For the gunning down of hundreds of aid workers and journalists."