JD Vance slams Mamdani over 9/11 comment, says Democrat socialist believes ‘the real victim’ was ‘his auntie’
In a heated exchange amidst the early voting period for New York City’s mayoral race, Vice President JD Vance took to social media to criticize Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani over remarks he made regarding the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. Vance shared a video clip of Mamdani, who is currently leading in the polls, discussing his personal experience as a Muslim American in the shadow of 9/11. During a campaign event, Mamdani reflected on how his aunt, a Muslim woman, stopped taking the subway due to fear for her safety, stating, “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt…who did not feel safe in her hijab.” Vance’s response was sharp, suggesting that Mamdani was trivializing the impact of 9/11 by labeling his aunt as “the real victim” of the tragedy, which he dismissed as merely experiencing “bad looks.”
Mamdani’s comments were part of a broader narrative he is weaving throughout his campaign, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by Muslim New Yorkers and advocating for those who feel marginalized in the wake of 9/11. He emphasized the sacrifices made by Muslim individuals in the city, including those who serve in public roles like teaching and policing, while also articulating the emotional toll of living under the persistent stigma of being viewed as “the other.” Mamdani stated, “Growing up in the shadow of 9/11, I have known what it means to live with an undercurrent of suspicion in this city.” His remarks come at a time when tensions are high, particularly with former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has also been critical of Mamdani, suggesting in a radio interview that the candidate’s leadership during a crisis would be questionable. Mamdani responded directly to Cuomo’s comments, labeling them as “Islamophobic” and accusing the former governor of resorting to divisive rhetoric in his campaign.
As the mayoral race heats up, with early voting already underway, the exchanges between candidates highlight the deep-seated issues of identity, safety, and representation in New York City. Mamdani’s campaign is not only about securing votes but also about addressing systemic biases and fostering a more inclusive dialogue in a city still grappling with the scars of 9/11. With challengers like Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the mix, the outcome of this election could significantly reflect the city’s evolving attitudes towards diversity and leadership in times of crisis.
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Vice President
JD Vance
criticized New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, writing on X that according to the Democrat, “the real victim of 9/11” was his aunt.
Vance made the remark as early voting began Saturday in New York City, where Mamdani, the frontrunner in the race, is trying to fend off challengers
Andrew Cuomo
and Curtis Sliwa.
“I want to speak to the memory of my aunt. Who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab,” Mamdani said in a clip of a Friday campaign event that Vance shared.
“According to Zohran, the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks,” Vance said.
EARLY VOTING UNDERWAY IN NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AMID HOTLY CONTESTED MAYOR AND GOVERNOR RACES
Mamdani also said Friday, “I want to speak to the Muslim who works for our city, whether they teach in our schools or walk the beat for the NYPD, New Yorkers who all make daily sacrifices for the city they call home, only to see their leaders spit in their face.”
“I want to speak to every child who grows up here marked as the other, who is randomly selected in a way that never quite feels random, who feels that they carry a stain that can never be cleaned. Growing up in the shadow of 9/11, I have known what it means to live with an undercurrent of suspicion in this city,” Mamdani added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mamdani campaign for reaction to Vance’s comment.
SOCIAL MEDIA ERUPTS AFTER CUOMO, MAMDANI RIP EACH OTHER DURING FINAL DEBATE: ‘UNMASKED’
Mamdani
accused Cuomo this week
of “Islamophobic rhetoric” after the former governor joined a radio show and its host speculated that Mamdani would be “cheering” if New York City faced another 9/11-style attack.
During an appearance on WABC’s “Sid & Friends in the Morning” on Thursday, Cuomo questioned Mamdani’s ability to lead the city through a crisis situation.
“Any given moment, there’s a crisis, and people’s lives are at stake. God forbid, there’s another 9/11. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” Cuomo asked host Sid Rosenberg.
“He’d be cheering,” Rosenberg retorted.
“That’s another problem,” said Cuomo, before returning to his hypothetical question: “But could you imagine that?”
During a Mamdani campaign event in Manhattan later on Thursday, a reporter asked Mamdani if Cuomo’s comments were Islamophobic.
“Yes, I believe that they were,” Mamdani said, before adding, “We’re speaking about a former governor who, in his final moments in public life, is engaging in rhetoric that is not only Islamophobic, not only racist, it’s also disgusting.”
Fox News Digital’s Deirdre Heavey contributed to this report.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
