Socialist jeweler who called US a 'sh--hole' teams up with top Dem Senate hopefuls

Two Democratic Senate hopefuls, Sherrod Brown and James Talarico, were reported to be the featured guests at a Manhattan money-raising event hosted by jewelry designer Alexis Bittar, who has drawn attention for harsh remarks about the country. Actor Robert De Niro was also named among the hosts. An invitation obtained by the Washington Free Beacon listed donation tiers from $500 up to $27,000 for the Monday night gathering, according to Fox News.

The controversy centers on Bittar's own words. In a July interview promoting a documentary about "reclaim[ing]" the American flag, he said his three young children were growing up in a "sh--hole" and that action was needed now. Separately, he told Forbes in July 2025 that the flag had been taken over by the political right, and that during Donald Trump's rise it had turned into a "symbol of aggression." He said he was motivated by wanting to push back against the new administration's policies at a time when many people seemed demoralized.

Bittar is an active progressive donor. Gothamist reported that he was one of the contributors who gave the top permitted sum to fund the transition effort of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and he sat on that team's Arts & Culture committee. The Free Beacon noted he embraces the socialist label. On Instagram, he recently urged followers in New York to vote and cheered on "Democrat Socialists," saying he wanted to change America.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →