Zohran Mamdani Appointee Resigns After Decade-Old Antisemitic Posts Surface

One of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s recent appointees, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, resigned after resurfaced social media posts from 2011–2012 that contained antisemitic language were publicized by the Anti-Defamation League and others.

“NEW YORK CITY (WABC) --A newly appointed key official in the upcoming Mamdani administration has resigned over resurfaced posts on the X social-media platform, just one day after her appointment was announced”

ABC7 New York

Multiple outlets report Da Costa stepped down one day after being named director of appointments.

ABC7 New York

She issued apologies saying the posts do not reflect who she is and expressing regret.

Mamdani accepted her resignation as his incoming administration moved to withdraw the appointment.

Reporting identifies the Anti-Defamation League as a central actor in bringing the posts to light and demanding answers.

Several outlets quoted the ADL calling the posts indefensible and reported that it publicized or shared the tweets.

CNN

Jewish and political leaders reacted, with some praising the resignation and others warning about selective responses depending on the target of the remarks.

Da Costa issued an apology that acknowledged she is the mother of Jewish children and expressed regret.

Mamdani accepted the resignation and described it as the appropriate response to the distraction.

Several outlets republished or cited the decade-old tweets or paraphrased them; some included verbatim examples.

“Published Dec 18, 2025 at 7:20 p”

Gothamist

Reported examples included phrases such as "Money hungry Jews smh," "money-hungry Jews," "Working alongside these rich Jewish peeps," and the claim that the Far Rockaway train was "the Jew train."

Those concrete examples were used by multiple outlets to illustrate why the posts were widely denounced.

Coverage differs on whether Mamdani or his team knew about the posts before appointing Da Costa.

Transition sources told NBC New York that Mamdani and his team were unaware of the posts when they appointed her.

Hindustan Times

Several outlets note the appointment was announced one day and withdrawn the next.

Others, including Moneycontrol and the New York Post, emphasize the ADL's demand for answers about whether the administration knew or condoned the posts.

Outlets place the episode in different broader contexts: some treat it as an isolated personnel misstep quickly corrected, while others connect it to larger scrutiny of Mamdani's rhetoric and hiring choices.

“The NYC mayor-elect had tapped Catherine Almonte Da Costa as director of appointments ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images Catherine Almonte Da Costa, Director of Appointments, speaks during a press conference with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani (L) and Jahmila Edwards (C), Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, on December 17, 2025 in New York”

Jewish Insider

JTA highlights growing concern in the Jewish community about Mamdani's history of anti-Israel rhetoric even as he condemns antisemitism.

Jewish Insider

Moneycontrol mentions past controversy over Mamdani's response to 'globalize the intifada'.

Several outlets also note Mamdani has announced few hires so far, making each appointment subject to scrutiny.