Former Governor Andrew Cuomo has criticized Zoran Mamdani, a candidate from the Democratic Socialist Party running for mayor, suggesting that Mamdani is using his Muslim identity as a shield while campaigning. Cuomo accused him of disrespecting families affected by 9/11, as well as various other communities in New York.
“He claims to be a victim because of his faith. But that’s not true—he’s actually the one causing offense,” Cuomo said during a Saturday event attended by various religious leaders. He labeled Mamdani as his “major opponent,” and listed groups he believes Mamdani has harmed, including Jews, Black individuals, Italians, the LGBTQ community, and some Muslims.
Cuomo called out Mamdani’s actions towards the Jewish community, stating that they’ve been hurt in significant ways. He recounted a conversation with a Jewish person who expressed fear about wearing the Star of David in the city. According to a report by the UJA Federation of New York, there are over 1.3 million Jews living in the city.
The former governor took issue with Mamdani’s refusal to denounce the phrase “globalizing the intifada,” often interpreted as a call to violence against Jews. This stance has drawn criticism toward Mamdani early in his campaign.
Cuomo also pointed out that Mamdani’s support for decriminalizing prostitution is damaging to the Sunni Muslim community, mentioning that the term haram in Arabic indicates that it is forbidden according to the Koran.
Additionally, he accused Mamdani of making inappropriate gestures towards a statue of Christopher Columbus, which he believes offended Italian-Americans. Cuomo further criticized a photo of Mamdani with Ugandan officials known for enforcing harsh anti-LGBTQ laws, viewing it as disrespectful to the LGBTQ community.
This story is still developing. Stay tuned for updates.
Fox News Digital has attempted to reach out to Mamdani’s campaign for a response.
