A streamer broadcasting to more than 1 million followers on the platform Kick set off a viral firestorm after declaring New York City an 'Islamic Republic' during celebrations following Egypt's World Cup victory over Australia, invoking newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani by name.
Nicolas Kenn De Balinthazy, known online as Sneako, was broadcasting live from among Egyptian soccer fans in New York when he made the declaration. The video quickly circulated across platforms including Instagram and X, garnering tens of millions of views within days.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil liberties advocates and progressive groups expressed concern that the incident could fuel discrimination against Muslim communities in New York City. Mamdani, who became the city's first Muslim mayor earlier this year, has faced scrutiny since taking office.
Advocacy organizations working to combat anti-Muslim bias noted that viral incidents like this one often lead to increased harassment targeting Muslim Americans. They pointed to data showing a spike in anti-Muslim hate incidents following high-profile political rhetoric.
Some progressive commentators argued the focus should remain on platform accountability for extremist content rather than allowing the incident to become a vehicle for broader attacks on Muslim politicians or communities. They noted that Sneako's previous associations with both far-left and far-right movements suggest his primary motivation is provocation rather than genuine ideological commitment.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics argued the streamer's comments represented dangerous extremist rhetoric that should face consequences. Former Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill, who led the raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011, responded publicly to the video.
'These guys sound WAY different when you wake them up at 2am,' O'Neill wrote on X, referencing the 2011 Abbottabad operation.
Conservative commentators focused on what they described as a failure by social media platforms to adequately police extremist content. Following the incident, some Republican lawmakers called for increased scrutiny of platforms that host creators making inflammatory political declarations.
Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who owns platform X, engaged with calls for accountability after conspiracy theorist Alex Jones demanded deportation of the streamer in a post that received millions of views.
What the Numbers Show
Sneako's video accumulated tens of millions of views across multiple social media platforms within 72 hours of posting. The clip was removed from some platforms while remaining available on others.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, elected as New York City's first Muslim mayor in November 2025, assumed office in January 2026. He has not publicly addressed the specific video but has previously spoken about his administration serving all New Yorkers regardless of background.
Sneako's online following exceeds 1 million subscribers across platforms where he broadcasts regularly. His content has previously drawn scrutiny for associations with figures and movements described by researchers as extremist or antisemitic.
The Bottom Line
The incident highlights ongoing tensions around free speech, platform moderation, and the treatment of Muslim politicians in American public life. Sneako's subsequent racist remarks directed at Musk on X drew additional criticism but also demonstrated the unpredictable nature of online political discourse.
Mayor Mamdani's office did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the streamer's declarations. The controversy comes as some city officials have faced increased harassment related to policy disagreements, according to reports from community organizations tracking such incidents.