New York City’s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has sparked outrage after sharing a photo from an iftar dinner held at Gracie Mansion with Mahmoud Khalil, an outspoken anti-Israel figure previously targeted for deportation by the Trump administration.
On Monday night, Mamdani posted on X, mentioning that he and his wife welcomed Khalil, along with Noor and their son, Deen, to break their fast together.
Highlighting Khalil’s struggles over the past year, Mamdani expressed admiration for his resilience, stating, “Last night, we were honored to mark the one-year anniversary of his detention and celebrate together at Gracie Mansion.”
This post quickly garnered millions of views, igniting swift backlash from conservatives and Jewish groups, who accused Mamdani of using the mayor’s residence for radical political messages at a delicate moment for the city.
Clay Travis, founder of Outkick, harshly criticized Mamdani’s choice, calling it inappropriate to celebrate with someone labeled an anti-Israel protester alongside his wife, who had controversially engaged with social media posts about the October 7 attacks in Israel.
Reports suggest Mamdani’s wife liked posts glorifying the attack, prompting Mamdani to defend her by clarifying that she is not a public figure.
Critics also pointed out the implications of hosting Khalil. Joel M. Petlin, Kiryas Joel School District’s superintendent, bluntly remarked that such a dinner underminds the mayor’s stance against Islamic terrorism.
New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov described the event as a shocking display of misplaced priorities, criticizing the decision to host Khalil while referencing past displays of antisemitism at Columbia University.
NY City Hall under Mamdani. Not AI. pic.twitter.com/JEWfnB4co2
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 12, 2026
Journalist Neria Kraus emphasized that Mamdani’s choice reflects his values, noting Khalil’s justification of the October 7 attack as a dishonorable acknowledgment.
UPenn student Eyal Yakoby condemned the mayor’s actions, stating that Khalil’s close ties to Hamas signal a troubling empowerment of extremist sentiments.
Leo Terrell, a civil rights attorney, called out the hypocrisy of inviting a terror supporter after social media scrutiny.
The Republican Jewish Coalition also chimed in, asserting that Khalil belongs in deportation proceedings rather than receiving hospitality from the mayor.
Mamdani’s office has yet to issue a public response to the mounting criticisms.
The incident occurs amidst scrutiny surrounding Mamdani’s handling of a separate situation near Gracie Mansion, where two individuals allegedly launched improvised explosive devices, with authorities investigating the matter as ISIS-related terrorism.
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
