Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) criticized comedian Jerry Seinfeld after he dismissed calls to support Palestine while leaving Game 4 of the NBA Finals in New York City.
The exchange occurred Wednesday night outside Madison Square Garden following the New York Knicks’ victory. A social media influencer approached Seinfeld and asked, “Can we get a ‘Free Palestine?'”
Seinfeld responded with a laugh before replying, “It doesn’t exist.”
Jerry Seinfeld was asked to drop a Free Palestine after the Knicks game.
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinkle) June 11, 2026
"It doesn't exist.”
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 pic.twitter.com/cJOtl6woe0
The brief remark quickly spread online and reignited debate over Seinfeld’s long-standing views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The comedian has been one of the entertainment industry’s most outspoken supporters of Israel. In September 2025, during an appearance at Duke University, Seinfeld ignited controversy when he compared the “Free Palestine” movement to the Ku Klux Klan.
“Free Palestine is, to me, just — you’re free to say you don’t like Jews. Just say you don’t like Jews,” Seinfeld said at the event. “By saying Free Palestine, you’re not admitting what you really think.”
He went on to argue that the slogan often serves as a cover for antisemitism, sparking significant backlash. Many on the other side of the issue argue that this is an unfair characterization that deflects from valid criticism with broad accusations of bigotry.
Following his latest comments, Omar condemned Seinfeld during an interview with TMZ.
Rep. Ilhan Omar torches Jerry Seinfeld over "disturbing" Palestine remarks.
— TMZ (@TMZ) June 11, 2026
🎥: @hicharliecotton pic.twitter.com/Fvue0CGNNQ
Asked whether Seinfeld’s statement was dangerous given his large public platform, the Minnesota congresswoman responded, “I think Jerry Seinfeld has been a really horrific human being and an example when it comes to talking about the reality of the genocide that Israel has carried out.”
She argued that influential public figures have a responsibility to consider how their words affect public discourse.
“When people prioritize their own people in the interest of harming others, it’s very dangerous,” Omar said. “And I don’t think you’d think of him as just a celebrity and someone who has a platform in that danger. But it is dangerous just as a human being to talk the way that he does.”
Omar further characterized Seinfeld’s comments as “disgusting,” “disturbing,” and reflective of what she described as “genocidal language.”
The congresswoman also pointed to Jewish history, arguing that Seinfeld should recognize the dangers of rhetoric that dehumanizes entire populations.
“For him, knowing that his people suffered the Holocaust and experienced what genocide looks like, for you now to recognize the genocidal language that he’s using to wipe out a whole group of people, it’s very disturbing,” Omar said.
When asked what message she would send directly to the comedian, Omar replied: “Be a human. Care about other people.”
She added, “Palestinians do exist. They are real people. They are ethnic to the land in which they belong. And Israel is the one that is taking their land, not the Palestinians.”
The clash highlights the continuing polarization surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and broader debates over Palestinian statehood. Public figures have increasingly found themselves at the center of controversies over statements related to the issue, with both sides accusing the other of promoting harmful rhetoric.
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