New York’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has just endorsed a candidate whose views on 9/11 are stirring up a hornet’s nest of controversy.
The Daily Mail reported that Mamdani, a radical socialist, has supported Palestinian-American activist Aber Kawas to take his place in the New York State Assembly’s 36th district, while also trying to mend fences with President Donald Trump amid threats to cut federal funding for the city.
Mamdani, a prominent anti-Israel activist and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member, has thrown his support behind Kawas, a recent district resident and fellow DSA member, as reported by The New York Daily News.
Kawas isn’t your average candidate—she’s a Palestinian-American with a Master’s in Islamic Liberation Theology from a South African university, and her past remarks are causing quite the uproar. In 2017, at the Asian American Writers’ Workshop, she connected the horrific September 11, 2001, attacks to “white supremacy” and the broader “American system.”
Listen to her own words: “The system of capitalism and racism and white supremacy and Islamophobia have all been used to colonize lands, to take resources from other people, so this is a long trajectory and we're just seeing the manifestations of that continuation with 9/11,” Kawas stated.
That’s a bold claim, but it’s tough to swallow for many who see that day as a unifying tragedy, not a platform for ideological critique.
Kawas also touched on capitalism, colonization, and the lack of historical apologies for atrocities like slavery, which has only fueled the fire. Public reaction has been sharp, with social media and commentators blasting Mamdani’s decision. One critic asked, “What the hell was Zohran thinking?”
The criticism isn’t letting up, as many question how someone with such polarizing perspectives could represent a diverse district. Kawas faces competition from Brian Romero, another DSA member and deputy chief of staff to Assembly Member Jessica Gonzales-Rojaz, who appears less divisive.
The Daily Mail sought comments from Mamdani and Kawas but has yet to receive a response. Public sentiment is clear—some see this endorsement as part of a troubling pattern among certain progressive leaders who prioritize ideology over unity. It’s a gamble for Mamdani, who’s already juggling other high-stakes battles.
Enter the second act of this drama: Mamdani’s tense relationship with President Donald Trump. As mayor-elect, he’s reaching out to build a working dynamic with the president, despite Trump branding him a “communist” and threatening to withhold federal funds for New York City.
Trump’s position has been blunt—he backed former Governor Andrew Cuomo to stop Mamdani’s mayoral run and issued stark warnings online.
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home,” Trump posted. That’s a serious threat to a city already stretched thin.
Still, Mamdani is pushing for cooperation where possible, focusing on issues like the cost of living and affordable groceries if Trump is willing to talk. He’s also promised to resist any policies that hurt New Yorkers, showing a mix of pragmatism and defiance.
Interestingly, Trump’s recent comments hint at a possible softening, suggesting he’s open to helping New York thrive under Mamdani’s leadership. It’s a small olive branch, though doubts linger about whether this ideological divide can be bridged.
Closer to home, Mamdani is teaming up with Governor Kathy Hochul to cushion any blows from federal funding cuts. It’s a sensible strategy to shore up state support when the national outlook seems shaky.
