Front-Runner Mamdani Faces Backlash Over Wahhaj

Zohran Mamdani, the front-runner in next month’s New York mayoral race, posted a photo of himself arm‑in‑arm with Imam Siraj Wahhaj after Friday prayers at Masjid At‑Taqwa, praising Wahhaj as a longtime community leader. Wahhaj is a controversial figure — federal prosecutors once identified him as an “unindicted co‑conspirator” in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and he has been criticized for inflammatory and homophobic remarks. The photo unleashed bipartisan backlash: Muslim scholars warned the meeting could normalize extremist narratives and sideline moderates, while Republicans and public figures including Rep. Elise Stefanik, Donald Trump and Elon Musk publicly criticized Mamdani. Mamdani was also criticized for initially dodging a direct answer about whether Hamas should disarm in a Fox News interview; he later told debate moderators he believed Hamas should lay down its arms while stressing justice, safety and adherence to international law. Mamdani defended the outreach, noting past mayors have met Wahhaj and saying he is engaging New York’s large Muslim electorate, but the episode has intensified scrutiny of his judgment and electability and led some Democrats to withhold endorsements.