Trump-backed Blakeman – Bruce Blakeman, the Republican and Trump-endorsed candidate for New York governor, sparked outrage after a Holocaust-related attack on progressive House candidate Brad Lander, saying he would be a “camp guard.” Blakeman later softened the phrasing to “a collab
Bruce Blakeman didn’t just hit back at Brad Lander this week—he reached for the Holocaust.
On Wednesday night. during a Newsmax appearance. the Republican and Trump-endorsed candidate for New York’s gubernatorial election was discussing Tuesday’s election victories by progressive candidates in New York. That’s when Blakeman went after Lander, the progressive candidate for Congress in the state’s 10th district.
“And Brad Lander — he’s a disgrace. He’s anti-American, he is anti-Semitic, even though he’s Jewish. This guy would be a camp guard in a concentration camp if he could. He’s a disaster,” Blakeman said.
The comment spread quickly on social media, and Blakeman did not retreat. On Thursday, he doubled down in a slightly different form when he spoke to NY1, saying, “Maybe camp guard was too strong, but certainly a collaborator, as Brad Lander turned his back on the Jewish community.”
Lander responded sharply the same day, condemning Blakeman’s Holocaust comparison. Speaking to NY1 on Thursday. Lander said: “If you care about the human rights and freedom and dignity and lives of Palestinians and don’t want to keep sending bombs to kill them. then you’re like a concentration camp guard — that is just Trumpism. that’s just hate. that’s just vile.”.
The fallout widened beyond the two campaigns, pulling prominent Democrats into the fight—especially those who share the Jewish community Blakeman invoked.
Outgoing Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who is also Jewish, called the remarks unforgivable. “I’ve known Brad Lander for years, and he will make an excellent member of Congress. For Bruce Blakeman to invoke the Holocaust to smear a fellow Jewish man is beyond the pale — it is a grotesque desecration of the memory of 6 million Jews. These comments are disqualifying, and they show exactly why Bruce Blakeman must never be governor of New York,” Nadler said.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul—who will face off against Blakeman in the November election—went further. describing his comments as beneath the dignity of the office he’s seeking. “It just reminds New Yorkers that every single time Bruce Blakeman opens up his mouth. he’s simply auditioning for his next role in the Trump administration after he loses the election. ” Hochul said. She also called the remarks “absolutely despicable.”.
The sequence has been stark: a Holocaust reference delivered on television, a viral afterlife online, and then a second try at justification—followed immediately by public condemnation from Lander and major Democratic figures as the race heads toward November.
Bruce Blakeman Brad Lander Holocaust remark Newsmax NY1 Kathy Hochul Jerry Nadler New York gubernatorial election Trump-endorsed candidate 10th district Palestinians
Using the Holocaust like that is disgusting. Why can’t politicians just argue normal?
Wait so he said “camp guard” and then switched to “collaborator”? That seems like the same thing to me. Also calling Lander anti-Semitic when he’s Jewish… politics is so messed up.
I’m not even sure what the guy meant by camp guard like did he compare him to Nazis or what? Seems like everybody just wants a scandal. But Lander saying the “concentration camp guard” thing back at him feels kinda extreme too.
This is exactly why I don’t trust any of these NY politics people. One minute it’s election victories, next minute it’s bombs, Palestinians, Holocaust, concentration camps… it’s like they’re all trying to win the most emotional argument, not make sense.