The debate surrounding Zoran Mamdani, the socialist candidate for mayor of New York City, has reignited on social media. This comes after a video clip surfaced where he suggested that Adolf Hitler drew inspiration from President Abraham Lincoln just before the upcoming election on Tuesday.
A user named MAZE shared the video on X, stating, “Father of Zoran Mamdani: America was the root of all evil and the inspiration for the Nazis,” and the post quickly garnered over 10 million views.
During a panel at the Asia Society in 2022, Mahmood Mamdani, Zoran’s father, made the claim that America is the starting point for “settler colonialism” globally. He stated that Lincoln’s approach during the Civil War involved the “reservation solution,” which segregated Native Americans into separate areas. According to Mahmood, this inspired Hitler, who realized that genocide was indeed feasible and that citizenship wasn’t necessary for a unified nation.
The comments have sparked significant backlash from conservative figures online. For instance, political commentator Dave Rubin described Mamdani’s assertion as one of the “craziest things” he’d ever heard, mentioning his prior affiliation with the Young Turks. Others, like Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham, implied a familial connection in ideology, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis questioned why such individuals would be welcomed in America.
Fox News Digital attempted to contact both Zoran and his father for comments regarding the uproar. Criticism has also stemmed from some of the beliefs shared by Mahmood in his own writings, including sentiments expressed in a book dedicated to “Zoran and His Friends.”
In his 2004 book, “Good Muslims, Bad Muslims,” Mahmood argued that suicide bombings should not merely be viewed as barbaric acts but understood within the context of political violence, asserting that such individuals could be seen as soldiers in their struggle.
Moreover, Mahmood Mamdani is part of the advisory board for the Gaza Tribunal, a group that champions boycotts against Israel and often accuses the Israeli government of genocide, firmly positioning itself within the anti-Israel movement.
During an interview, Mahmood acknowledged that while their parenting may have influenced Zoran, it doesn’t directly reflect on him. He emphasized Zoran’s independence in his political views. Zoran himself had previously mentioned that growing up in a politically active family made him more receptive to what some might label as extremism from a young age.
In a 2020 interview, he expressed that being a Muslim immigrant can place someone in the “other” category in American society, suggesting that advocating for Palestinian rights is often seen as radical within mainstream discourse. This, he feels, isn’t a significant leap for those who share his identity.
