Former Republican U.S. Representative for Illinois (2011-2013); political commentator and podcast host, now a vocal Trump critic. Not to be confused with the Eagles guitarist of the same name.
Case
Mamdani mourned Israeli and Palestinian deaths in one October 7 anniversary statement. Walsh, Danon and Alkhatib said the date should focus on victims of Hamas's attack.
Case
Read Macklemore's 'Free Palestine' speech excerpts and the full transcript source. Compare the promoter's venue statement with his account of leaving Ed Sheeran's U.S. tour.
Role at the time: Former U.S. representative and political commentator
Response to this claim
Mamdani improperly turned the October 7 anniversary into a propaganda attack against Israel.
“Shame on you @NYCMayor. You can't just give one day for Israel to mourn? One day?”
He directly criticizes Mamdani's choice to include other grievances in this remembrance.
Role at the time: Former U.S. Representative (R-IL); political commentator
Statement summary
Joe Walsh disputed the framing that Macklemore's on-stage remarks were limited to the phrase "free Palestine," saying he said more than that and that it was offensive to some people, while defending both Macklemore's right to say it and Kraft's right to exclude him over it.
“Macklemore didn't just say free Palestine. He did more than that... a reason why a lot of folks got upset... Maybe not offensive to you, but offensive to some people. You'd acknowledge that or no?”
Walsh disputes Ana Kasparian's characterization that Macklemore merely said an innocuous "free Palestine," asserting he said more and that it upset and offended people. He does not go on to personally condemn Macklemore's conduct -- he explicitly defends Macklemore's right to have said it, framing the dispute as a free-speech and property-rights question for all parties rather than rendering his own verdict on the content.
Statement dates: September 16, 2026
Statement dates: September 16, 2026 to October 7, 2026
Statement dates: September 16, 2026
Statement dates: October 7, 2026
Statement dates: September 16, 2026 to October 7, 2026
Statement dates: October 7, 2026
