Outrage Erupts After Senator Tuberville Links NYC's Muslim Mayor to 9/11 Attacks
Washington, Friday, 13 March 2026.
Senator Tommy Tuberville faces fierce Democratic condemnation after shockingly equating New York City’s first Muslim mayor hosting a Ramadan iftar to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, escalating partisan tensions.
A Contentious Post Sparks Immediate Backlash
On March 11, 2026, Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama ignited a political firestorm by sharing a social media post that juxtaposed New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Ramadan iftar at City Hall with the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks [1][2]. The post, originally from an account called “End Wokeness,” noted that the two events were “less than 25 years apart”—a timeline underscoring the 25 years that have passed since the tragedy [1][2]. Tuberville amplified the comparison on the platform X, adding his own commentary: “The enemy is inside the gates” [1][2].
The reaction from Democratic lawmakers was swift and severe. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut denounced Tuberville’s remarks as “vicious racist,” pointing to a broader trend of the Republican Party allowing “overt racists” into its mainstream [1]. California Governor Gavin Newsom echoed this sentiment with a blunt condemnation, calling the Alabama senator a “racist piece of s—“ [1]. Representative Dan Goldman of New York labeled the post “Blatantly racist” and “Wildly Islamophobic,” stating that Tuberville ought to apologize but likely would not because “the Republican party has lost all sense of shame” [1].
The Broader Context of Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
Tuberville’s comments are not an isolated incident within the current political landscape. They follow a string of anti-Muslim statements recently made by other Republican figures, including Representatives Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Randy Fine of Florida [1]. Furthermore, Representative Brandon Gill of Texas also targeted Mayor Mamdani’s iftar, posting an image of the event and describing it as “Stomach churning. Truly repulsive” [1]. Despite the growing chorus of Islamophobic rhetoric on social media from party members, GOP leadership has largely remained quiet [3]. When asked about the situation, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson offered a muted response, simply stating that “the language that people use is different language than I would use” [1].
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer strongly rebuked the rhetoric, emphasizing the integral role of Muslim Americans in society [1]. “This is mindless hate,” Schumer stated, noting that Muslim Americans serve as police officers, doctors, teachers, and mayors [1]. He further declared that such Islamophobic hate is “fundamentally un-American” and must be confronted [1]. Meanwhile, as of March 11, 2026, Senator Tuberville had not responded to media requests for comment regarding the backlash [1].
Tensions Escalate in New York City
The online rhetoric mirrors real-world tensions currently gripping New York City. Mamdani, who made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor, has faced intense scrutiny and vitriol [2]. On March 7, 2026, just days before Tuberville’s post, an anti-Islam rally dubbed “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City” was held near Gracie Mansion, the mayoral residence [2]. The situation escalated when two teenagers from Pennsylvania, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, allegedly threw explosive devices at the protestors [2]. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the attack is being investigated as an “act of ISIS-inspired terrorism” [2].
Against this volatile backdrop, conservative podcaster Sid Rosenberg referred to the 34-year-old mayor as a “jihadist” and a “radical Islam cockroach” on March 7, though he later issued an apology [2]. Mamdani addressed the mounting hostility, reflecting on the painful familiarity of such language for a Muslim New Yorker born in East Africa [2]. Refusing to back down, Mamdani stated, “I am not ashamed of who I am. I am not ashamed of my faith” [2]. Regarding the outrage over his iftar—held during the holy month of Ramadan, which began in mid-February and is scheduled to conclude around March 19, 2026—Mamdani offered a pointed counter-criticism: “Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers” [1][2].