Senator Tuberville Defends Controversial Comparison Between NYC Mayor and 9/11 Attacks

Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama is standing by his controversial social media post that drew parallels between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, despite facing significant backlash.

Last week, the Republican senator shared a post on X that juxtaposed an image of the Twin Towers during the 9/11 attacks alongside a photo of Mamdani, who appeared to be hosting a Ramadan Iftar event at City Hall. The original post by an account called “End Wokeness” carried the caption “Less than 25 years apart,” to which Tuberville added, “The enemy is inside the gates.”

When asked to explain his remarks, Tuberville told DC News Now reporter Reshad Hudson, “I just go by his rhetoric.” The senator claimed his post was merely reflecting statements Mamdani has made regarding Islam.

“He’s made a lot of statements about his stance with Islam and radical Islam, all the things that go along with what he preaches every day. And I’m just kind of repeating what he’s saying,” Tuberville explained.

The senator’s comments have intensified an already heated national conversation about Islamophobia and political rhetoric in America. When questioned about whether Muslim Americans in Alabama might find his post offensive, Tuberville responded that he has “some great Muslim friends” and had recently spoken with “two Iranians in Alabama this past week about the war.”

Tuberville, a former college football coach who entered politics in 2020, doubled down on his stance with additional social media posts on Tuesday specifically targeting Islam. “Radical Islam is the enemy of any freedom-loving American. The liberal media is running cover for Radical Islamists, but the Quran is pretty CLEAR on its instructions to KILL all non-Muslims,” he wrote in one post.

In another, he stated: “To anyone offended by me calling radical Islamic jihadists the enemy: If the shoe fits, wear it.”

Tuberville’s assertions about the Quran have been disputed by religious scholars, who note the Islamic holy book makes no reference to the United States or Americans. His claims about the Quran instructing followers to kill non-Muslims have been characterized by experts as a misrepresentation of Islamic teachings.

Despite the controversy, Tuberville maintained that his issue is not with religious diversity. “We don’t need a division in this country. We need everybody to go with the Constitution, understand we have moral values. And if we all stick with those — I don’t care if you’re Muslim or Catholic or Baptist, it makes no difference,” he said.

The senator added, “Hey, you come be part of our country [and] don’t try to divide people, don’t try to push your culture — we already have a culture — [then] I’m all for you.”

Mayor Mamdani, who is Muslim, responded to the senator’s original post with restraint, writing on X: “Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers.”

The incident comes amid increasing tensions in American politics regarding religion and immigration, with several Republican lawmakers recently making controversial statements about Muslims. As of Wednesday morning, Tuberville’s original post remained pinned to the top of his X account, indicating he stands by his comments despite the widespread criticism they have received from Democratic colleagues and civil rights organizations.