Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama shared a post on X that juxtaposed a photograph from the September 11, 2001, terror attack on the Twin Towers with an image of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, accompanied by the message "Less than 25 years apart" and the caption "the enemy is inside the gates."
The post, originally shared by the account "End Wokeness," featured an image that appears to show Mamdani hosting a Ramadan Iftar event at New York City Hall, based on an Instagram post from the account "muslimnews" that includes video footage matching the photograph.
Mamdani, who is both a Muslim and a democratic socialist, responded directly to Tuberville's remark on X: "Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers."
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers swiftly condemned Tuberville's comments as racist and Islamophobic. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts wrote on X: "Racist. Islamophobic. Disgusting. Republicans just want to Make America White Again."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also responded on X, calling the remarks "mindless hate" and stating: "Muslim Americans are cops, doctors, nurses, teachers, bankers, bricklayers, mothers, fathers, neighbors, mayors, and more. Islamophobic hate like this is fundamentally un-American and we must confront and overcome it whenever it rears its ugly head."
The Democratic response emphasized that Mamdani is the first mayor of New York City to be sworn in using a Quran, and that his religious practices and community engagement should not be subject to such rhetoric.
What the Right Is Saying
Tuberville defended his remarks, sharing Schumer's post and responding with a lengthy statement on X. The senator wrote: "Calling Radical Islam out for being a CULT doesn't make you an 'Islamophobe.' Radical Islamists chant 'death to America' and would love to see every Christian and Jew murdered."
Tuberville continued: "Under Sharia Law, if you are not a Muslim, you are the ENEMY. Under Sharia Law, minorities are PERSECUTED. Under Sharia Law, women are SOLD, RAPED, and TRAFFICKED. Don't believe me?? Read it for yourself! Radical Islam is NOT compatible with the Constitution and has NO PLACE IN AMERICA. I won't be silenced about this."
This was not the first time Tuberville made such comments. On December 31, he posted "the enemy is inside the gates" when sharing a screenshot of a New York Times headline about Mamdani being slated to become the first mayor of New York City to use a Quran for his swearing-in ceremony.
What the Numbers Show
Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City in 2025, becoming the first Muslim mayor of a major American city. His inauguration marked the first time a New York City mayor was sworn in using a Quran.
The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks killed 2,977 people in New York City, Washington D.C., and Pennsylvania. The attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda, an extremist Islamist terrorist organization.
The FBI's annual hate crime statistics for 2025 showed over 150 reported incidents targeting Muslim Americans, according to preliminary data from the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
The Bottom Line
The controversy illustrates the intersection of immigration, religious identity, and political rhetoric in American politics. Tuberville's comments represent a broader debate within the GOP about how to discuss terrorism and Islamic extremism, with the senator framing his remarks as opposition to "Radical Islam" rather than targeting Muslims broadly.
Mamdani's office has not issued additional statements beyond his initial response. Democrats have called for the remarks to be condemned by Republican leadership, though no formal censure has been proposed. The debate reflects ongoing tensions over the portrayal of Muslim Americans in political discourse and the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric toward elected officials.
What to watch: Whether Republican leadership distances itself from Tuberville's comments, and whether this controversy influences future legislative or political discussions involving the mayor of America's largest city.