Mamdani Win Sparks Vile Islamophobic Backlash

Written by Daniel Harper.

The decisive victory of Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on June 24, 2025, has ignited a firestorm of Islamophobic rhetoric from prominent right-wing figures, casting a shadow over what many New Yorkers view as a triumphant moment for progressive politics. Mamdani, a 33-year-old state assemblyman and Democratic Socialist, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, marking a significant upset in a race that captivated the nation. However, the celebration of his historic win, which positions him as the likely first Muslim and Asian American mayor of New York City, has been marred by a barrage of hateful attacks targeting his Muslim identity. This article examines the nature of these attacks, their implications for political discourse, and the challenges Mamdani faces as he navigates a polarized landscape.

The Rise of Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani’s ascent to the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City represents a remarkable political journey. Born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian and Ugandan parents, Mamdani moved to New York City at age seven. He graduated from Bowdoin College and became a U.S. citizen in 2017, later joining the Democratic Socialists of America. Elected to the New York State Assembly in 2020 to represent Queens’ 36th District, he won re-election unopposed in 2022 and 2024. His mayoral campaign, launched in March 2025, gained momentum through a progressive platform advocating for free public transit, affordable housing, and universal childcare, resonating with younger voters and communities of color.

Mamdani’s victory over Andrew Cuomo, a seasoned politician with decades of name recognition, was a stunning upset. Polls in the final weeks showed a tightening race, with Mamdani’s grassroots energy and endorsements from figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez propelling him forward. On primary night, he secured a commanding lead, prompting Cuomo to concede just 80 minutes after polls closed. Mamdani’s win reflects a shift in New York’s political landscape, where voters, frustrated by rising housing costs and public safety concerns, embraced his vision for systemic change.

For many New Yorkers, Mamdani’s success is a source of pride. His campaign events, marked by vibrant rallies and community engagement, showcased his ability to connect with diverse constituencies. At a victory party in Long Island City, he pledged to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, emphasizing unity and equity. Yet, outside the city, his Muslim identity and progressive stance have made him a target for vitriolic attacks, raising concerns about the state of political discourse in America.

A Wave of Islamophobic Attacks

Following Mamdani’s primary win, right-wing lawmakers, influencers, and media outlets unleashed a torrent of Islamophobic rhetoric, falsely linking his faith to terrorism and extremism. Donald Trump Jr., son of President Donald Trump, amplified a post suggesting that New Yorkers had “voted for” another 9/11 by supporting Mamdani, invoking the 2001 attacks that killed 2,753 people. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia shared an AI-generated image of the Statue of Liberty in a burka, implying that Mamdani’s leadership would impose Islamic cultural norms on the city. Similarly, Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina posted a photo of Mamdani in traditional South Asian attire at an Eid service, accompanied by a caption lamenting that Americans had “forgotten” the lessons of 9/11.

Far-right influencer Charlie Kirk escalated the rhetoric, claiming that Mamdani’s election was a step toward implementing Sharia law across the United States. Kirk’s posts, which garnered significant engagement on social media, framed Mamdani’s Muslim identity as a threat to Western values. The Babylon Bee, a satirical outlet popular among conservative audiences, published a piece mocking Mamdani’s housing policies with references to 9/11 conspiracy theories, including a fictional quote about demolishing the World Trade Center. The article also suggested Mamdani would remove synagogues to build government-run stores, perpetuating baseless claims of antisemitism tied to his support for Palestinian rights.

Among the most inflammatory voices was Laura Loomer, a pro-Trump activist known for her anti-Muslim rhetoric. In a series of social media posts, Loomer falsely claimed that Mamdani was funded by the Muslim Brotherhood and aligned with Iranian ideologues due to his Shia Muslim background. She went further, urging the Trump administration to bar Mamdani from office and criminally charge him for unspecified terrorism-related activities. Loomer also pointed to a congratulatory message from former President Bill Clinton as evidence of Democratic support for “Islamic terror,” a claim that distorts Mamdani’s record and conflates his faith with extremism.

Other figures, such as Benny Johnson and Dinesh D’Souza, joined the fray. Johnson posted an image of the World Trade Center under attack, captioning it with a claim that New York had elected a “Muslim jihadist.” D’Souza described Mamdani as a “Muslim Obama,” reviving discredited conspiracy theories about Barack Obama’s faith while warning of dire consequences. These attacks, often coordinated across social media platforms, have amplified fearmongering narratives, portraying Mamdani’s potential mayoralty as a civilizational threat.

The rhetoric has not been limited to online spaces. Some Republican lawmakers, including Representatives Mike Lawler and Nicole Malliotakis, have criticized Mamdani’s progressive policies as extreme, though they stopped short of endorsing the most inflammatory attacks. New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, in a radio interview, labeled Mamdani a “known jihadist terrorist” and called for his deportation, despite his U.S. citizenship. Such statements, coming from elected officials, lend legitimacy to the hate directed at Mamdani and underscore the mainstreaming of Islamophobia in certain political circles.

Threats and Safety Concerns

The Islamophobic backlash has escalated beyond rhetoric, resulting in tangible threats to Mamdani’s safety and that of his family. In early June 2025, a man was arrested after attempting to physically confront Mamdani at a campaign event in Queens, biting a volunteer’s hand in the process. Days before the primary, the New York Police Department launched an investigation into death threats targeting Mamdani, including a voicemail from an individual who called him a “terrorist” and threatened to rig his car with explosives. The plot was thwarted, in part, because Mamdani does not own a vehicle, relying instead on public transit—a fact that aligns with his advocacy for free buses.

In a rare display of vulnerability, Mamdani spoke to reporters about the toll of these threats. “I get threats on my life, on the people that I love,” he said, referencing the emotional weight of the attacks. He drew on a quote from author Toni Morrison, noting that racism serves as a distraction from substantive issues. Despite the hostility, Mamdani has remained focused on his campaign’s message, emphasizing policies like affordable housing and public safety reforms. His resilience in the face of such vitriol highlights the personal cost of political leadership for minority candidates, particularly those who challenge the status quo.

The threats against Mamdani are part of a broader pattern of Islamophobia in American politics. Muslim candidates, such as Representative Ilhan Omar and former congressional candidate Rashida Tlaib, have faced similar harassment, often amplified by their progressive stances and criticism of U.S. foreign policy. Mamdani’s vocal support for Palestinian rights, including his refusal to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” has been seized upon by critics as evidence of radicalism. During the campaign, he clarified that the phrase, to some, represents a call for equality, though he acknowledged its varied interpretations. This nuance was lost in the right-wing echo chamber, where it was weaponized to paint him as a security threat.

For the average reader, consider the experience of a teacher who faces baseless accusations from a parent about their teaching methods. The accusations, though unfounded, can create a hostile environment, forcing the teacher to defend their integrity while continuing their work. Similarly, Mamdani must navigate a barrage of false claims while campaigning to lead a city of 8.3 million people. The added layer of religious and racial prejudice complicates this challenge, as it taps into deep-seated fears and stereotypes that persist in American society.

Implications for Political Discourse

The Islamophobic attacks on Mamdani reflect a troubling trend in American politics, where religious and ethnic identities are weaponized to polarize voters. The rhetoric echoes the hysteria surrounding the 2010 “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy, when plans for an Islamic community center near the World Trade Center site sparked outrage on conservative media. Then, as now, fearmongering narratives conflated Islam with terrorism, ignoring the diversity of Muslim communities and their contributions to American life. New York City, home to one of the largest Muslim populations in the U.S., has long been a target for such rhetoric, despite its history of resilience and pluralism.

The coordinated nature of the attacks on Mamdani suggests a deliberate strategy to undermine his candidacy ahead of the general election in November 2025. With New York’s Democratic-leaning electorate, Mamdani is favored to win, though he may face a rematch with Cuomo, who is considering an independent run. Right-wing figures appear to be laying the groundwork to frame Mamdani as a dangerous outsider, hoping to sway moderate voters or energize Republican turnout. This tactic, however, risks alienating New Yorkers who value the city’s diversity and reject divisive rhetoric.

The attacks also highlight the role of social media in amplifying hate. Platforms like X have become breeding grounds for Islamophobic tropes, with influencers like Loomer and Kirk leveraging their large followings to spread misinformation. The speed and reach of these platforms make it difficult for candidates like Mamdani to counter false narratives in real time. Moreover, the mainstreaming of such rhetoric by elected officials like Greene and Mace normalizes prejudice, eroding the civility needed for democratic governance.

Historically, minority candidates have faced similar challenges. In 1960, John F. Kennedy confronted anti-Catholic bias during his presidential campaign, addressing concerns about his faith in a landmark speech. More recently, Barack Obama navigated accusations of being a “secret Muslim” during his 2008 and 2012 campaigns, a trope D’Souza’s comments about Mamdani revive. These examples illustrate the persistence of religious and racial prejudice in American politics, as well as the resilience required to overcome it. Mamdani’s ability to maintain his campaign’s momentum despite the attacks speaks to his political acumen and the strength of his coalition.

The broader implications extend beyond Mamdani’s campaign. The rise of Islamophobia in response to his victory threatens to chill political participation among Muslim Americans, who make up roughly 1.1% of the U.S. population but remain underrepresented in elected office. It also undermines efforts to combat hate crimes, which have risen in recent years, particularly against Muslims and Jews. In 2023, the FBI reported a 50% increase in anti-Muslim hate incidents, a trend that inflammatory rhetoric from public figures only exacerbates. For New Yorkers, the attacks on Mamdani challenge the city’s identity as a beacon of tolerance, forcing a reckoning with the limits of its inclusivity.

Our Take

Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary is a testament to the power of grassroots organizing and progressive ideals, but the Islamophobic backlash it has provoked reveals the fragility of civility in American politics. The attacks, rooted in baseless stereotypes and fearmongering, are not just an assault on Mamdani but a broader attack on the principles of diversity and inclusion that define New York. While Mamdani’s resilience and focus on policy offer hope, the normalization of such rhetoric by elected officials and influencers is a dangerous precedent that demands condemnation. As Mamdani prepares for the general election, the challenge will be to rise above the hate, uniting New Yorkers around a vision of equity and justice. This moment calls for a collective commitment to reject division and uphold the dignity of all candidates, regardless of faith or background.