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Who is Stuart Seldowitz? Wiki, Biography, Age, Wife, Family & Facts About Ex-Obama Adviser

Stuart Seldowitz (born in 1959, Age: 64 years old) is a former White House and senior national security official who served under the Obama administration from 2009 to 2017. He recently came under fire for his Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rant against a halal cart vendor in New York City, which was captured on video and went viral on social media. 

Early Life and Career

Stuart Seldowitz was born in 1959 and grew up in New York. He graduated from Columbia University with a degree in political science and international relations in 1981. He then joined the US Foreign Service and served as a diplomat in various countries, including Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. 

He also held several senior positions at the State Department, such as the director of the Office of South Central European Affairs, the deputy director of the Office of Egyptian Affairs, and the deputy director of the Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs. 

In 2009, he was appointed as the director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, where he advised President Barack Obama on issues related to the Balkans, Turkey, Cyprus, and the Caucasus. He also played a key role in the implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995. 

In 2013, he became the senior adviser for the Dayton Peace Accords Project, a non-governmental organization that promotes peace and reconciliation in the Balkans. He also joined Gotham Government Relations, a lobbying firm based in Washington, DC, as its foreign affairs chair. 

Stuart Seldowitz Wiki/Bio

NameStuart Seldowitz
OccupationFormer White House and Senior National Security Official
ControversyViral video displaying Islamophobic comments and menacing behavior in NYC
Age64 years (Born in 1959)
NationalityAmerican
ResidenceNew York
Recent AffiliationForeign Affairs Chair
Gotham Government Relations (Cut ties following controversy)
EducationGeorge Washington University
FamilyWife: Rosalinda Seldowitz
Children: Two (a son and a daughter)
Parents: Romanian immigrants and Holocaust survivors
Siblings: One brother (Robert Seldowitz)
AwardsThree-time winner of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, French, Portuguese
Political AffiliationDemocrat
Instagramstuartseldowitz
Homepagenewsunzip.com

Family Background

There is not much information available about Stuart Seldowitz’s parents and siblings. According to his lawsuit against the Office of the Inspector General of the State Department in 2000, his father was a Holocaust survivor who escaped from Romania and immigrated to the United States.

Stuart Seldowitz’s mother was also a Romanian immigrant who met his father in New York. They had two sons, Stuart and Robert. Stuart was born in 1959 and Robert was born in 1961. They grew up in Queens, New York, and attended public schools. Stuart graduated from George Washington University and joined the foreign service, while Robert became a lawyer and worked in private practice.

Controversy and Backlash

On November 19, 2023, Stuart Seldowitz was caught on camera hurling abusive and threatening remarks at a halal cart vendor in Midtown Manhattan. He accused the vendor of being a “terrorist” and a “murderer” and made derogatory comments about Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, and the Quran. He also expressed support for Israel and its actions against the Palestinians. 

The video of the incident, which lasted for about 10 minutes, was recorded by a bystander and posted on Instagram, where it quickly went viral and sparked outrage and condemnation from various groups and individuals. Many people called for Seldowitz to be held accountable for his actions and to face legal consequences. 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, issued a statement denouncing Seldowitz’s behavior and demanding an apology from him. CAIR also urged the New York Police Department (NYPD) to investigate the incident as a hate crime and to provide protection for the vendor and other Muslim-owned businesses in the area. 

Gotham Government Relations, the firm that Seldowitz worked for, announced that it had cut ties with him following the controversy. The firm’s president, David Schwartz, said that Seldowitz’s actions were “completely unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our firm.” He also apologized to the vendor and the Muslim community for the harm and distress caused by Seldowitz. 

The Obama administration also distanced itself from Seldowitz and condemned his remarks. A spokesperson for the former president said that Seldowitz’s views “do not reflect the values or policies of the Obama administration, which worked to promote tolerance, respect, and cooperation among people of all faiths and backgrounds.” The spokesperson also expressed sympathy and solidarity with the vendor and the Muslim community. 

Apology

On November 21, 2023, a video of Stuart Seldowitz berating and threatening a halal cart vendor in Manhattan was posted on Instagram by a user named @nycfoodie. The video showed Seldowitz asking the vendor, who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, “Did you rape any women today?” and “Are you a terrorist?” He also accused the vendor of selling “poison” and “garbage” and said he would call the police and the health department on him. He also made derogatory remarks about the vendor’s religion and culture, such as “You don’t belong here” and “Go back to your country”. The video also captured Seldowitz grabbing a metal rod from the cart and swinging it at the vendor, who tried to defend himself with a broom. The video ended with Seldowitz walking away, saying “I’ll be back”.

The video quickly went viral and sparked widespread condemnation from the public, the media, and the political circles. Many people called for Seldowitz to be arrested and charged with hate crimes, assault, and harassment. The New York Police Department said it was investigating the incident and looking for Seldowitz. The State Department also issued a statement distancing itself from Seldowitz and condemning his actions. Gotham Government Relations, the firm that employed Seldowitz, announced that it had cut ties with him and denounced his behavior as “vile” and “unacceptable”.

Stuart Seldowitz issued a half-hearted apology on November 22, 2023, through his lawyer. He said he regretted his actions and words, but claimed he was not an Islamophobe. He said he was under a lot of stress and had a mental breakdown. He also said he had a history of bipolar disorder and was seeking professional help. He asked for forgiveness and

Personal Life, Spouse & Kids

Seldowitz is married and has two children. He lives in New York City. He is Jewish and has been a supporter of Israel and its policies. He has also been involved in several Jewish organizations, such as the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League. 

According to some media sources, Stuart Seldowitz is married to Rosalinda Seldowitz, who also worked as a secretary to a deputy negotiator at the Nuclear Space Talks in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1989. They have two children, a son, and a daughter, who are both adults. Seldowitz lives in New York City and is a registered Democrat. He has not been active on social media since the controversy.

Former Obama Adviser’s Islamophobic Rant Sparks Outrage

A former senior national security official in the Obama administration has been caught on camera unleashing a vile Islamophobic rant at a halal cart vendor in New York City, calling him a “terrorist” and mocking his religion.

Stuart Seldowitz, who served as the acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate under the Obama administration, and Deputy Director in the US State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs from 1999 to 2003, was filmed by a bystander on November 19 as he approached a halal cart on the corner of 5th Avenue and 59th Street.

In the videos, which have gone viral on social media, Seldowitz can be heard making incendiary remarks about the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. He also makes comments on the Israel-Hamas conflict, blaming the Palestinians for the violence and praising Israel for its military actions.

At one point, he asks the vendor, who appears to be of Middle Eastern descent, “Did you rape your daughter today?” He then accuses him of being a “terrorist” and a “Hamas supporter”. He also tells him to “go back to your country” and says that he is “not welcome here”.

The vendor, who remains calm and composed throughout the ordeal, tries to reason with Seldowitz and tells him that he is a US citizen and has the right to be there. He also tells him that he is not a Muslim, but a Christian and that he respects all religions.

Seldowitz, however, continues to hurl insults and threats at him, saying that he will call the police and the FBI on him. He also claims that he has connections in the government and that he knows President Joe Biden personally.

The videos have sparked widespread condemnation and outrage from various quarters, including the White House, the Muslim community, civil rights groups, and former colleagues of Seldowitz.

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Arica Deslauriers

Update: 2024-05-20