A frequent patron of a street cart on 83rd Street and 2nd Avenue in New York, near his Upper East Side home, 64-year-old Seldowitz, was captured on video releasing Islamophobic tirades at a food vendor. Shared on Twitter in three distinct clips, the footage shows him verbally threatening the vendor, questioning his character with derogatory remarks, and suggesting that the vendor should “learn English” to pursue a different profession than working in a cart.
Ex-White House advisor harasses halal cart vendor, says killing of 4,000 Palestinian kids ‘wasn’t enough’ https://t.co/vGynVWu0RE pic.twitter.com/DV8PjWBdo9
— New York Post (@nypost) November 22, 2023
Seldowitz, 64, a regular customer at a street cart on 83rd Street and 2nd Avenue in New York near his Upper East Side residence, was caught on video making Islamophobic threats and hurling abuse at a food vendor.
In the footage shared on Twitter, he can be heard using derogatory language, calling the vendor a “terrorist,” and making threats, including sending pictures to the Egyptian intelligence agency and mentioning harm to the vendor’s parents.
One particularly disgusting remark includes Seldowitz stating, “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, it wasn’t enough.” Identified as Barack Obama’s former director of the National Security Council, Seldowitz later issued an apology expressing regret for injecting religion into the incident. However, the aftermath of the videos continues, with NYC City Council Member Julie Menin announcing an ongoing investigation by the 19th Precinct.
Throughout the videos, the vendor-maintained professionalism in response to Seldowitz’s inflammatory comments, offering to sell him something.
Seldowitz refused, insisting on his right to stand on the sidewalk. He questioned the vendor’s permits and visa status, accusing him of supporting terrorism.
As the videos gained traction online, a supportive sign appeared on the vendor’s cart, reading, “The Upper East Side Stands with You.” Reports suggest that Seldowitz served as an agent for the State Department under five different presidents.
However, members of the Obama administration have yet to comment on the controversy surrounding their former adviser.
— Gotham Government Relations (@GothamGovt) November 21, 2023
