Islamophobic anger greets Mamdani’s historic win in New York

NEW YORK (MNTV) — Within hours of Zohran Mamdani’s historic election as New York City’s mayor, a torrent of Islamophobic rhetoric swept across social media and conservative media circles, turning the victory of the city’s first Muslim mayor-elect into a new front in America’s culture wars.

Posts, statements, and televised commentary followed a familiar script, questioning Mamdani’s loyalty, his citizenship, and even his faith. Some Republican lawmakers called for a review of his naturalization, while others hinted that his progressive platform signaled “foreign sympathies.”

CNN’s Van Jones was among those raising ‘alarm’ at Mamdani’s instant ‘character switch’ after winning power. In a doubtful language, Jones pointed out Mamdani’s ‘sudden shift’ and called for suspicion to judge his character, explicitly presenting his unreasoned Islamophobia.

President Donald Trump led the backlash, calling Mamdani a “communist lunatic backed by Islamist donors” during a rally in Florida. Senator Ted Cruz echoed the line, writing on X that “the Crown Jewel of America is now governed by a communist jihadist.”

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro warned that “Mamdani wins a blowout victory, and announces the advent of a communist-Islamist future.” The framing, part Cold War panic, part post-9/11 paranoia, quickly shaped coverage across right-wing networks.

Far-right commentator and an important part of Trump’s new administration, Laura Loomer went further, demanding that “Trump dismantle Mamdani and his entire Islamic network by denigrating the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization and filing charges against the Islamic groups and 501c3s that funded Mamdani’s campaign.”

The 501(c)(3) is a specific legal designation under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code that grants federal income tax-exempt status to organizations operating exclusively for certain public-benefit purposes.

In all caps, she added: “TAKE AWAY THE 501c3 STATUS OF THE 4-LETTER ISLAMIC TERROR ‘NON-PROFITS’ THAT FUND MAMDANI.”

Israeli commentator Eval Yakoby accused Mamdani of celebrating his win alongside “pro-Hamas agitators and jihadist mouthpieces,” naming individuals such as Hasan Piker and Mehdi Hasan, claims that were unsubstantiated but widely shared by pro-Israel and far-right accounts.

Real-world threats matched the digital fury. Authorities confirmed an arrest after a man left a series of menacing voicemails directed at Mamdani and his family, underscoring how online hostility has spilled into physical intimidation.

Some conservative outlets framed Mamdani’s campaign as part of an “Islamic influence machine” seeking to infiltrate American politics, recycling conspiracy theories that have circulated since the early 2000s.

Others revived discredited narratives linking Muslim political organizing to extremism abroad.

Several Jewish and pro-Israel organizations expressed unease, citing Mamdani’s outspoken criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza. Many declined to issue the customary congratulations, while others offered cautious statements emphasizing dialogue on antisemitism and public safety.

The atmosphere around Mamdani’s win illustrates how identity politics, religion, and ideology can converge into a potent backlash. For many of his supporters, the post-election uproar is less about policy and more about the discomfort of a political establishment confronting a new kind of leadership — young, Muslim, and unapologetically progressive.

As the city transitions toward Mamdani’s administration, the question is no longer whether he can govern, but whether New York — and America’s political class — can rise above the prejudice that his victory has laid bare.