Following Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary race, a digitally altered image of the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa has gone viral on social media, sparking outrage among MAGA supporters and far-right activists. The image, showing the iconic statue draped in a black burqa, has been widely circulated on platforms like X, primarily by Mamdani’s critics.
Mamdani, who is poised to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor, won the primary with a clear lead over former New York governor Andrew Cuomo. His pre-election momentum was so strong that Cuomo conceded defeat overnight.
This hits hard. pic.twitter.com/YUrNTZW5lq
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) June 25, 2025
A young left-wing activist from the Muslim community, Mamdani’s win has drawn backlash from conservative quarters. Among those sharing the edited image was far-right Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who joined others in using it to criticize Mamdani`s victory.
MAGA supporter Don Keith was another prominent figure who shared the altered image, pairing it with a sarcastic caption: “Congratulations, New York.” The visual was intended to convey a warning that Mamdani’s leadership represents an ideological shift unwanted by the far-right.
Far-right politicians and Mamdani’s opponents have used such posts to suggest that his win symbolizes a rise in Islamic influence. Some have attempted to frame it as a threat to American values, pointing to his Gujarati Muslim heritage as part of their rhetoric.
Meanwhile, Mamdani, a strong contender and progressive voice, has consistently spoken out against Donald Trump and Republican policies. He has been especially critical of Trump’s immigration stance and has denounced the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, calling it a “genocide” while clarifying his remarks were not anti-Semitic.
In response to Mamdani’s win, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social with his signature tone: “We`ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he`s not very smart, he`s got AOC+3, and Dummies ALL, backing him, and even our Great Palestinian Senator, Cryin` Chuck Schumer, is grovelling over him. Yes, this is a big moment in the history of our country!”
https://www.mid-day.com/news/world-news/article/donald-trump-to-launch-social-media-app-truth-social-23197517
(With AFP Inputs)