13.03.2026 20:30
The iftar invitation given by Zohran Mamdani, New York's first Muslim mayor, stirred up the country's politics. Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville's sharing of a photo of Mamdani alongside an image from the September 11 attacks, using the phrase "The enemy is within the gates," drew significant backlash. Mamdani responded strongly to Tuberville's post, labeling the comments directed at him as "bigotry."
The iftar invitation given by Zohran Mamdani, New York's first Muslim mayor, at the Mayor's Residence and the subsequent social media posts sparked a new controversy between Republicans and Democrats. Mamdani reacted strongly, describing the posts directed at him as "bigotry."
COMPARES IT TO SEPTEMBER 11 Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville shared a photo of Mamdani alongside a photo from the September 11 attacks on the X platform. Tuberville used the phrase "The enemy is inside the gates" in his post.
JET RESPONSE FROM MAMDANI Responding to the post on his social media account, Mamdani reacted strongly to the criticisms. In his statement, Mamdani said:
"I hope that politicians in Washington show as much anger at children going hungry as they do at my sharing bread with New Yorkers."
AT THE IFTAR, HE HIGHLIGHTED THE PROBLEMS OF MUSLIM AMERICANS Speaking at a special iftar dinner held on Thursday evening, Mamdani said that many Muslim Americans face prejudice.
"When I feel such unrestrained hatred and contempt, I feel a sense of loneliness and isolation that I know many of you also feel," said Mamdani, continuing his words:
"Who here has been told 'you don't belong to New York City'? Who here has been told 'go back to where you came from'?"
"WE MUST LIVE OUR FAITH OPENLY" Calling on Muslim Americans to continue living their faith and culture freely while also drawing attention to the growing sense of insecurity in society, Mamdani said, "What I often hear is that people feel they have to suppress certain aspects of their identity to be accepted. This pressure is increasing."
Those attending the iftar also performed their prayers at the mayor's residence. CLAIM THAT "RADICAL ISLAMISTS ATTACK EVERY DAY" In another post made the same day, Tuberville claimed, "Americans are shot in the streets almost every day by radical Islamists."
RESPONSE FROM DEMOCRATS While it is noteworthy that Republican leaders largely remained silent on Tuberville's posts, many Democratic politicians reacted to the statements.
New York Senator and Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer described the posts as "mindless hatred." In his statement, Schumer said, "Muslim Americans are police officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, bankers, masons, mothers, fathers, neighbors, and mayors. Such Islamophobic hatred is contrary to American values."
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders assessed Tuberville's words towards Mamdani as "blatantly Islamophobic racism."