A social media confrontation erupted Thursday between California Governor Gavin Newsom and Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville following a post involving New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The dispute centers on an image shared by Tuberville that linked the Sept. 11 attacks with Mamdani, who recently hosted an iftar meal at City Hall.
The friction began when Tuberville reposted an image circulating online that paired a photograph of the 2001 terrorist attacks with a picture of the New York City Mayor.
Accompanying the post, Tuberville wrote, “The enemy is inside the gates,” and included a link requesting donations for his nonprofit.
Governor Newsom responded on X with a direct personal attack against the Senator. “Tommy Tuberville proves to the world that a football hitting your head can turn you into a racist piece of shit,” Newsom wrote. “Congrats, Tommy.”
The initial controversy stems from Mayor Mamdani’s decision to host activist Mahmoud Khalil and his family at Gracie Mansion to break the Ramadan fast.
Khalil has drawn scrutiny for past comments regarding the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, which he previously described as an “unavoidable moment” in the Palestinian struggle and a “desperate attempt” to remain part of the global political equation. In subsequent interviews, Khalil declined to condemn Hamas, calling such demands disingenuous.
Mayor Mamdani addressed the criticism by pivoting to domestic issues.
“Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers,” Mamdani posted. He stated that the focus should remain on his efforts to engage with the city’s diverse communities during the holy month of Ramadan.
The exchange marks a significant escalation in rhetoric between the high-profile officials, highlighting deep partisan divides over foreign policy and domestic conduct.
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