JD Vance Criticizes Zohran Mamdani's 9/11 Comments About Muslim Discrimination

US Vice President JD Vance delivered a pointed response to Democratic leader Zohran Mamdani's comments about his aunt's experience following the 9/11 attacks. Mamdani had shared that his aunt stopped using the subway after September 11 because she felt unsafe wearing her hijab.

In his response, Vance sarcastically suggested that according to Mamdani, "the real victim of 9/11 was his auntie who got some (allegedly) bad looks."

Mamdani, who is currently the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, made these remarks while addressing the challenges faced by Muslim New Yorkers. Speaking outside a Bronx mosque with Muslim community leaders, he shared his aunt's experience as an example of the discrimination Muslims encountered after the attacks.

He further explained how he had been advised to downplay his faith when entering the political arena, saying, "These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught." Mamdani also criticized his electoral opponents, Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Sliwa, and Eric Adams, suggesting they have adopted such messaging in their campaigns.

The New York mayoral race features Sliwa as the Republican candidate and Cuomo running as an Independent, while incumbent Mayor Eric Adams has decided not to seek reelection.

Critics have accused Mamdani's opponents of steering their political attacks toward Islamophobia. During a recent appearance on a conservative radio program, Cuomo reportedly appeared to laugh when the host suggested Mamdani would "be cheering" another 9/11 attack, though a spokesperson later clarified that Cuomo disagreed with those comments.

Mayor Adams has made concerning statements about "Islamic extremism," while Sliwa has labeled Mamdani as a supporter of "global jihad."

In response to these characterizations, Mamdani expressed that Muslims simply want equal treatment as New Yorkers. He admitted that he initially avoided displaying his Muslim identity during his campaign, thinking that by "behaving well enough" and avoiding confrontation about "racist, baseless attacks," he could transcend being defined solely by his faith.

"I was wrong," Mamdani reflected. "No amount of redirection is ever enough." He concluded with a powerful statement about embracing his identity: "I will not change who I am, how I eat, for the faith that I'm proud to call my own. But there is one thing that I will change. I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light."