Former Obama Adviser Fired After Disturbing Video Leaks

Stuart Seldowitz, a former political adviser in the Obama administration, has been ousted from his position at Gotham Government Relations after a video capturing him engaging in an Islamophobic tirade towards a halal cart vendor went viral on social media.

The footage, which surfaced on X (formerly Twitter), depicts Seldowitz making offensive comments near 83rd and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. In the video, he questions the cart operator about his daughter, makes derogatory remarks about the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and callously suggests that the deaths of approximately 4,000 Palestinian children during the Israel-Hamas conflict “wasn’t enough.”

Gotham Government Relations confirmed Seldowitz’s identity and promptly announced his termination, denouncing his actions as “vile, racist, and beneath the dignity of the standards we practice at our firm.”

According to a recent Siena Research Institute poll, a substantial number of New York City residents perceive increased Islamophobia and antisemitism within Muslim and Jewish communities, respectively, since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.

The survey reveals that 62 percent of respondents believe Muslims in the city face Islamophobia, with 60 percent noting an increase since the conflict began. Additionally, 73 percent expressed concerns about rising antisemitism against Jewish people, with 75 percent believing it has escalated over the same period.

Stuart Seldowitz, a seasoned diplomat with a history of service in various roles, including as acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate under former President Barack Obama, had been working as the foreign affairs chair at Gotham Government Relations before his termination.

The video’s widespread circulation prompted significant public condemnation, amassing millions of views across various posts identifying Seldowitz and providing background information. The announcement of his firing by Gotham Government Relations gained traction online, and the original video seeking help to identify him garnered over 2.3 million views.

Prominent social media figures, including Zara Magnusson and Ashok Swain, contributed to the dissemination of information about Seldowitz. Magnusson’s post highlighted Seldowitz’s past advisory role in the Obama White House, while Swain, a professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Sweden’s Uppsala University, emphasized the impact of Islamophobia.

�