NBA player Kyle Kuzma criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for his recent remarks on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insinuating he was overstepping his role as mayor. “This is 2026. People cosplaying as things they don’t have the authority, the talent, or the track record to actually be. Just for content,” the Milwaukee Buck wrote on X, reposting Mamdani’s video.
“A mayor playing president. A founder playing operator. A content creator playing one-on-one, thinking he’s a pro. A 25-year-old with a ring light playing economist. Everyone auditioning. Nobody building. We’re raising a generation that is learning the reward isn’t in doing the thing; it’s in looking like you did the thing,” Kuzma added.
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“The clip is the career. The pose is the product. The soundbite is the substitute for a life’s work. Don’t fall for distractions.”
In a video released Tuesday, Mamdani urged the federal government to take action against Netanyahu. He mentioned that Netanyahu is facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal,” Mamdani wrote on X.
Mamdani has been a longstanding critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza. However, reports have noted the mayor of New York City does not have the authority to arrest or prosecute a foreign head of government visiting the city. Any such action would fall under federal jurisdiction and involve complex questions of U.S. law and international obligations.
“My administration has reviewed every avenue available under applicable law to determine whether New York City could execute the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant if Benjamin Netanyahu came here,” Mamdani had said. “It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant.” He had added that the U.S. federal government does have such authority, and “I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant.”
Netanyahu’s travel and potential visits to the United States have continued to draw scrutiny from critics. The Israeli prime minister has pushed back against Mamdani, and asserted he will speak at the United Nations in New York City.
This comes amid growing debates over Israel’s relationship with the United States. The Israeli prime minister has maintained close ties with President Donald Trump, while the Trump administration has strongly supported Israel during the conflict.