Nothing but his Islamic roots provoked right-wing Republican Party leaders and social media activists to unleash a barrage of vitriol against Zohran Mamdani, the elected Democratic primary winner for New York City mayor, who was targeted not only by political figures but also by prominent US media outlets warning of a 9/11-style attack.
The targeted campaign, as if regurgitating the deep-seated repulsiveness within them, laid bare the extent of right-wing intolerance towards Muslims, with Mamdani being labelled not only a “Hamas sympathiser” and “jihadist terrorist” but also a symbol of civilisational collapse, and, despite being an American citizen, facing calls for deportation from the US.
Conservative figures and influencers are portraying his candidacy as a threat to national security, despite his American citizenship and democratic socialist ideology, according to The Guardian.
The 33-year-old state assembly member, who is poised to become the city’s first Muslim mayor, has long faced criticism for his immigrant background and progressive politics, but his primary victory appears to have intensified the xenophobic rhetoric, including death threats and calls for deportation.
Several high-profile conservatives have mobilised online outrage by branding Mamdani a “Hamas sympathiser” and “jihadist terrorist”, while attempting to link his political ascent with the spectre of another 9/11, using language designed to exploit post-9/11 anxieties and paint Muslim participation in public life as inherently dangerous.
From inflammatory posts on social media to provocative statements in interviews, these attacks have drawn attention to the recurring pattern of anti-Muslim fearmongering in American politics.
Despite Mamdani’s status as a U.S. citizen, far-right activists and elected officials have falsely called for his removal from the country, citing his faith and political ideology as justification. His critics have also circulated AI-generated imagery and racially charged slogans suggesting that New York City no longer represents American values.
Senior members of the former Trump administration, including Stephen Miller, have amplified the attacks by linking Mamdani’s success to alleged failures in immigration policy, while Republican representatives have used the moment to fundraise and galvanise their bases with Islamophobic messaging.
This wave of hostility has extended to framing Mamdani’s campaign as a national security concern, even as he has consistently focused on local issues such as housing, affordability, and inclusivity.
The backlash is reminiscent of previous campaigns of vilification targeting Muslim public figures, including Keith Ellison in 2006, where questions of loyalty, religious identity, and association with terrorism were used to marginalise Muslim politicians.
Advocacy organisations have noted that while the tactics are not new, the intensity and volume of attacks following Mamdani’s primary win are particularly alarming, suggesting a deliberate attempt to stoke fear during an already polarised political climate.