He has a fondness for aluminum foil hats.
One of the co-founders of the trending campaign “Hot Girl for Zoran” has reportedly been spreading controversial conspiracy theories about Israel, suggesting its involvement in events like 9/11 and the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
Kaif Gilani, often referred to as Kaif Kabir, ignited a social media movement along with merchandise and volunteering efforts in support of Zoran Mamdani’s run for mayor. His tweets, including those from known Holocaust denier Ian Carroll, have drawn attention for their extreme anti-Israel sentiments, according to reports.
Back in January 2025, just before the “Hot Girls” initiative kicked off, Gilani shared a post from Carroll claiming that the lobbying group AIPAC had a strange connection to JFK’s murder.
The post asserted that “AIPAC has purchased over 90% of the seats in the current Congress,” and mentioned its efforts to have members registered as foreign agents shortly before JFK’s assassination.
He continued to advocate for similar conspiracy theories, including the baseless claim that Mossad had prior knowledge of the 9/11 attacks, which has been a persistent theme in various conspiracy circles.
“If Israel is our ‘greatest ally,’ then why did it maintain a spy network aimed at US government agencies until 9/11?” one of Gilani’s posts questioned.
Later on, Gilani became the highest-paid consultant for former City Comptroller Brad Lander’s legislative campaign and reiterated his anti-Israel views in May, labeling the statement “‘Israel has a right to exist’ as a racist dog whistle against Palestinians.”
He has characterized Israel as a “settler project country” and prominently featured imagery on his social media that included slogans like “Long Live Palestine.”
Last year, the “Hot Girls for Zoran” initiative, known for its eye-catching T-shirts, organized events to rally support for Mamdani’s campaign, which even included lookalike contests and garnered media coverage.
Founded in March 2025, the movement quickly evolved into a lively form of political activism geared towards Gen Z, with celebrities like Emily Ratajkowski and Renee Rapp donning the shirts.
A photo shared on Substack showed the current mayor of New York City with Gilani, holding one of the T-shirts.
Jewish Insider reported that Lander’s campaign paid Gilani’s company $15,000 for developing a website and managing social media.
However, a spokesperson for Lander, who identifies as a progressive Zionist, stated that they were unaware of Gilani’s controversial posts at the time of hiring him. After learning about them, they decided to end their partnership.
“Consultants do not represent Brad’s views,” the spokesperson emphasized, mentioning Lander’s stance against Hamas.
Co-founded by Cait Camelia, “Hot Girls for Zohran” has been rebranded to “Hot Girls Organize,” introducing new slogans like “Hot Girls Melt ICE” alongside initiatives targeting climate change and artificial intelligence.
Mr. Gilani has not responded to requests for comments regarding these developments.
— Additional reporting by Hannah Fierick
