Fact Check: Did Mamdani's wife vow to make Netanyahu's NYC trip 'a living hell'?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Ahead of the speculation surrounding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States, a rumor is circulating on social media platforms claiming that Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, has said that she'll do everything in her power to make Netanyahu's New York City trip 'a living hell'. Let us fact-check the viral claim.

Claim: Rama Duwaji vows to make Benjamin Netanyahu’s NYC visit a living hell

According to the claim that surfaced on X, Mamdani’s wife has declared that she’ll do “everything in her power” to turn Netanyahu’s visit to New York into 'a living hell'. She called him a war criminal who shouldn’t be allowed to walk free on their streets.

The post further argues that Rama Duwaji’s alleged threat against Netanyahu is reckless and unrealistic, stating she is making threats she cannot carry out because Netanyahu travels with extensive security protection.

It portrays her as an irresponsible political figure who could face consequences for making such remarks.

The post also accuses the "radical left" of hypocrisy, alleging that those who claim to defend democracy have simultaneously encouraged harassment of Netanyahu.

Overall, the post uses the alleged statement to criticize Duwaji and the political left while warning that confronting Netanyahu is a "dangerous game."

Fact Check: Zohran Mamdani's wife made no such remark

The claim, however, is false, as there is no evidence of the city’s First Lady commenting about the Israeli leader’s visit to the city.

Although Mamdani has announced that he will arrest Netanyahu if he lands in NYC, there are no reports of his wife making threats against him.

There are no official statements, announcements, social media posts, or press releases from the city’s First Lady that support the claim.

A search on Google for the claim yielded no credible reports by prominent news media outlets, which, if true, would not go unreported.

Donald Trump assures that Benjamin Netanyahu won't be arrested 

The claim surfaced after President Donald Trump declared that Netanyahu "will not be arrested" during any visit to the United States, directly pushing back after Mamdani said he was exploring whether his administration could detain the Israeli leader if he comes to New York for the UN General Assembly. 

Taking to Truth Social, Trump said, "Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America." 

He added that Netanyahu "is fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran," which Trump accused of killing "52,000 innocent protestors" and spending decades "killing American Soldiers, and others."