Stuart Seldowitz, a former National Security Council chief under President Obama, was recently captured in a viral video making Islamophobic remarks towards a halal cart vendor in New York City. Following the incident, Gotham Government Relations, a Manhattan-based lobbying firm, announced the termination of their association with Seldowitz. The firm’s statement condemned the behavior displayed in the video as “vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards” they uphold.
David Schwartz, founder and president of Gotham Government Relations, expressed his indignation over the incident, offering to represent the food vendor pro bono in any potential lawsuit against Seldowitz. Northwestern Mutual, where Seldowitz’s LinkedIn profile indicated he was employed as a financial representative, denied any current contractual or affiliative ties with him.
In the videos, which circulated on X (formerly known as Twitter), Seldowitz can be seen accusing the vendor of supporting terrorism and Hamas, and making inflammatory statements about Palestinian children. The vendor, in response, refutes these accusations and requests Seldowitz to leave, threatening to call the police.
Seldowitz’s professional background includes serving as acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate and working in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs. As of November 2022, he was also listed as the foreign affairs chairman for Gotham Government Relations.
The video’s content is set against the backdrop of ongoing tensions in the Middle East, notably the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, which led to significant casualties in Israel and Gaza, including the death of over 1,200 people in Israel and approximately 11,000 Palestinians. A temporary ceasefire has recently been negotiated, allowing for a four-day pause for the release of individuals held by both sides.