Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, has condemned a series of social media posts by Tommy Tuberville, a Republican senator from Alabama, describing the remarks as “bigotry” directed toward Muslim Americans.

The dispute began after Tuberville reposted an image on the platform X that showed Mamdani alongside a photo of the September 11 attacks, accompanied by the phrase “the enemy is inside the gates.” The post quickly drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights advocates.

Mamdani Speaks Out During Ramadan Event

Mamdani addressed the controversy during an iftar dinner marking the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The mayor, who is the first Muslim to lead New York City, said the comments reflected broader prejudice faced by many Muslim Americans.

Speaking to attendees at the event, Mamdani described feeling “loneliness and isolation” when encountering rhetoric that questions the belonging of Muslim communities in the United States. He also asked the audience how many had been told they did not belong in the city or should “go back where you came from.”

Iftar gatherings traditionally bring together Muslim families and communities after sunset to break the daily fast during Ramadan.

False Claims and Security Concerns

In another social media post, Tuberville claimed that Americans are being “gunned down in the streets almost daily by Radical Islamists.” Security experts and researchers dispute that characterization.

A 2025 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies found that attacks by Muslim extremists in the United States are relatively rare and do not show signs of resurgence in recent years.

Analysts say extremist violence in the U.S. has increasingly been associated with a range of ideological motivations rather than a single group.

Political Reactions From Lawmakers

Several Democratic leaders criticized Tuberville’s posts. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the United States Senate, described the comments as “mindless hate.”

Schumer emphasized the diversity of Muslim Americans’ roles in society, noting they serve as doctors, teachers, public servants, parents and community leaders.

Similarly, Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, said the attack on Mamdani amounted to “blatant Islamophobic racism.”

Republican leaders have largely not publicly responded to Tuberville’s remarks, and his office did not immediately comment when asked about the posts.

Previous Controversies Involving Mamdani

Mamdani has faced several verbal attacks in recent weeks. Earlier this month, New York radio host Sid Rosenberg drew criticism after making inflammatory remarks about the mayor during a broadcast.

Rosenberg later issued a partial apology, describing his comments as “a bit over the top.”

The latest dispute highlights ongoing tensions surrounding religion, identity and political rhetoric in American public life, particularly as the country approaches another election cycle.