Key Takeaways
- • Pershing Square CEO Bill Ackman called the Democratic Party "crazy, radicalized and anti-American" in an interview with Katie Miller, saying it is in the "worst place it's ever been" in the country's 250-year history.
- • Ackman said he once had a good relationship with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but now believes Schumer has "compromised" his values and is "just trying to keep his job."
- • Ackman's remarks appeared to reference Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whose family has faced questions over alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties, which El-Sayed denies.
- • Schumer's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment, and El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond either.
Summary
Bill Ackman, chief executive officer of Pershing Square Capital Management LP, described the Democratic Party as "crazy, radicalized and anti-American" during an interview with Katie Miller, host of the "Katie Miller Podcast," broadcast on a Tuesday, according to Fox News. He said the party is "in a very bad place," adding that it is "in the worst place it's ever been, in the 250-year history of the country." Ackman qualified his remarks by saying there are "some very high-quality Democrats," including senators and some congressmen, but argued the party itself has deteriorated.
Ackman singled out Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., saying he had a good relationship with the Senate Minority Leader over the years and once considered him a good man. "In recent years, I felt he's just trying to keep his job," Ackman said. He argued that politicians who build careers in the party face a choice between conforming to the party or facing primaries, and said Schumer had compromised his values.
Ackman also criticized politicians who support candidates he described as problematic, appearing to reference Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. According to Fox News, the remarks followed a Washington Free Beacon report on social media posts by El-Sayed's half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, describing her mother's past involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied any family ties to the group, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" "I have no ties; we have no ties." At a town hall, he said he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood when asked.
In the same interview, Ackman said he is "not a fan" of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, describing him as "very smart, very charismatic" but saying his decisions are "very bad for New York." Asked whether he would run for mayor, Ackman said he "would say possibly" but suggested he could achieve more by helping a talented person in the role. Fox News reported that Schumer's office and El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Ackman singled out Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., saying he had a good relationship with the Senate Minority Leader over the years and once considered him a good man. "In recent years, I felt he's just trying to keep his job," Ackman said. He argued that politicians who build careers in the party face a choice between conforming to the party or facing primaries, and said Schumer had compromised his values.
Ackman also criticized politicians who support candidates he described as problematic, appearing to reference Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. According to Fox News, the remarks followed a Washington Free Beacon report on social media posts by El-Sayed's half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, describing her mother's past involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied any family ties to the group, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" "I have no ties; we have no ties." At a town hall, he said he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood when asked.
In the same interview, Ackman said he is "not a fan" of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, describing him as "very smart, very charismatic" but saying his decisions are "very bad for New York." Asked whether he would run for mayor, Ackman said he "would say possibly" but suggested he could achieve more by helping a talented person in the role. Fox News reported that Schumer's office and El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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