Right-Wing Commentary Targets Zohran Mamdani’s Faith Following Primary Victory
In the wake of his apparent Democratic primary win in the New York City mayoral race, Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old state lawmaker, has become the target of xenophobic rhetoric from prominent MAGA-aligned commentators. These attacks have largely centered around his Muslim faith.
Conservative social media figure Laura Loomer unleashed a torrent of incendiary remarks, claiming that “New York City will be destroyed,” and ominously predicting that Muslims would begin “committing jihad all over New York.” Loomer further suggested that the city was “about to see 9/11 2.0.”
If elected in November, Mamdani would make history as the first Muslim mayor of New York City. While many critics have zeroed in on his progressive policies, others have chosen to attack him on the basis of his religion.
“24 years ago a group of Muslims killed 2,753 people on 9/11,” conservative activist Charlie Kirk posted on X, drawing a direct line from the tragic events of 9/11 to the potential of a “Muslim Socialist” leading the city.
“New York City has fallen,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted, referencing a post by Michael Malice that lamented how New Yorkers “endured 9/11 instead of voting for it.”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) chimed in, stating, “After 9/11 we said ‘Never Forget.’ I think we sadly have forgotten,” while sharing a picture of Mamdani on X.
As of now, Mamdani’s campaign has not issued a response to these comments.
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist, garnered 43.5 percent of first-place votes in New York’s ranked-choice voting system. Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, once considered the frontrunner, conceded the primary to Mamdani on Tuesday night. However, the official results will not be finalized until early July when all ranked-choice votes are counted.
During the primary, some of Mamdani’s adversaries, including a super PAC supporting Cuomo, alleged that he either promotes antisemitism or has espoused antisemitic views, particularly regarding his stance on Israel.
In previous statements, Mamdani has criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. In a June interview with The Bulwark, he referred to the phrase “globalize the intifada” as reflecting a “desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.” This comment has been a flashpoint in a primary election held in a city with significant Muslim and Jewish populations.
Despite the backlash, Mamdani has consistently rejected the label of antisemitism, firmly condemning violence against Jews in the United States. “I’ve said at every opportunity that there is no room for antisemitism in this city, in this country,” he declared at an emotional press conference towards the end of the race. He explained that his lack of a “visceral reaction” to being accused of antisemitism stems from a perception that when he speaks passionately, he is depicted as a “monster” by his opponents.
At the same press conference, Mamdani revealed the severity of the attacks he has faced due to his faith. “I get messages that say, ‘The only good Muslim is a dead Muslim.’ I get threats on my life, on the people that I love. And I try not to talk about it,” he shared, underscoring the real-world implications of this toxic political climate.
