Likud Billboard Displays NYC Mayor With Israel's Foes

Is Netanyahu's Mamdani billboard a desperate smear by a struggling leader or a fair reflection?

Published 4 days ago

Likud Billboard Displays NYC Mayor With Israel's Foes

Story

Above: A billboard depicting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani alongside Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Aug. 16, 2026. Image credit: Benjamin Netanyahu via X

The Spin

Narrative A

Mamdani called Netanyahu a war criminal and promised to arrest him, then quietly admitted New York City has zero legal authority to do any such thing — a performative stunt that backfired embarrassingly. Netanyahu putting Mamdani on a billboard alongside Iran's supreme leader and Hezbollah's chief is a fair reflection of the political company Mamdani keeps ideologically. Condemning Israel while staying silent on Hamas massacres is partisan theater.

The Jerusalem Post

Tim Scott on X

Benny Johnson on X

Narrative B

Netanyahu plastering Mamdani on a Likud billboard next to Iran's supreme leader and Hezbollah's chief is a desperate political stunt from a leader trailing in the polls. Calling someone a war criminal and getting slapped on a campaign poster for it only proves the point — Netanyahu needs enemies more than he needs a platform. Polling shows Mamdani is more popular among American Jews than Netanyahu, which tells you everything about who's actually losing ground.

Daniel Shapiro on X

Ounka on X Guardian