The question is what it means for the mayor of New York to declare a visiting foreign leader “not welcome” in the city he governs. From the podium, the mayor speaks as the city’s chief executive, with obligations an activist or candidate does not bear. New Yorkers would immediately recognize the problem; the mayoral office cannot become a vehicle for announcing which foreign dignitaries deserve the city’s welcome. While a mayor cannot control every protest, a mayor can set the tone during tense times and try to reduce the risk of confrontation, not heighten it. The city’s own legal review reminded Mayor Mamdani that he lacks the authority to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu.