Radical Democratic Socialist and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is facing intense backlash after suggesting that his Muslim aunt was a victim of the 9/11 terror attacks because she felt uncomfortable wearing a hijab on the subway. Mamdani made the remarks Friday outside the Islamic Cultural Center of The Bronx, where he accused political opponents of stoking “Islamophobia.”
“In an era of ever-diminishing bipartisanship, it seems that Islamophobia has emerged as one of the few areas of agreement,” Mamdani said. “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab.”
Critics blasted the comments as offensive and tone-deaf, particularly as they coincided with somber memorials honoring the 2,977 innocent Americans murdered by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Vice President JD Vance responded, writing, “According to Zohran the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks.”
Mamdani further inflamed criticism by accusing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and current Mayor Eric Adams of feeding anti-Muslim sentiment. He claimed Cuomo “laughed and agreed” with a radio host who joked that Mamdani would “cheer another 9/11.”
The controversy follows another firestorm involving Mamdani’s ties to Imam Siraj Wahhaj, whom he was recently photographed smiling alongside. Wahhaj is an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and has advocated for a “gun-free jihad” in New York. Mamdani’s decision to align himself with Wahhaj has only further alarmed voters.
Social media erupted after Mamdani’s remarks, with one user posting, “You trivialized a national trauma just to play victim. Shameful.” Another wrote, “The real victims of 9/11 never rode the subway again,” while sharing images of those killed in the attacks.
President Donald Trump honored the anniversary of 9/11 earlier this year by paying tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims and their families, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to never forget the attack on American soil.
