Florida Republican congressman Randy Fine has drawn sharp criticism after sharing a video of Muslims offering Eid al-Adha prayers in New York and claiming the city had been “conquered” under what he called “Jihadi Mamdani”, a reference to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Fine, a close ally of Donald Trump, posted the video on X with the warning, “America is next if we don’t wake up.” The footage showed a large Muslim congregation gathered for Eid prayers, part of public celebrations marking one of Islam’s most important festivals. His remarks quickly triggered condemnation from civil rights advocates, Democratic officials and social media users who described the post as inflammatory, anti-Muslim and a distortion of a protected act of worship.
Mamdani, who took office on January 1, 2026, is New York City’s first Muslim mayor and the city’s 112th mayor. His election in November 2025 marked a major political shift in America’s largest city, where his campaign centred on housing costs, public transport, childcare and affordability. A former New York State Assembly member from Queens and a democratic socialist, Mamdani defeated a crowded field after building a broad coalition of younger voters, renters, immigrant communities and progressive groups.
Fine’s post has placed Mamdani once again at the centre of a national argument over religion, migration and identity politics. The Florida lawmaker has previously faced criticism for comments about Muslims and Palestinians, including remarks that opponents said crossed from political criticism into religious hostility. His latest intervention came during Eid al-Adha celebrations, when Muslims across the United States and around the world gathered for prayers and community events.
There is no evidence that the New York prayer gathering shown in the video represented anything other than a religious observance. Eid prayers in public spaces, mosques, parks and community grounds are a routine feature of Muslim life in many American cities, including New York, which has one of the country’s most diverse religious populations. The First Amendment protects both religious practice and political speech, making Fine’s comments legally permissible but politically combustible.
Supporters of Fine argued online that he was raising concerns about political Islam and the direction of New York under Mamdani’s administration. Critics countered that the post conflated ordinary Muslim worshippers with extremism and used Mamdani’s faith as a political weapon. Several responses pointed out that Fine’s language targeted “mainstream Muslims”, not only radical groups, deepening accusations that the message stigmatised an entire religious community.
Mamdani has faced sustained attacks from conservative figures since his mayoral campaign gathered national attention. Opponents have sought to link his support for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza with extremism, while allies have defended his positions as part of a broader human-rights platform. The mayor has also faced scrutiny from Jewish organisations and political rivals over whether his rhetoric has done enough to reassure New Yorkers concerned about antisemitism.
New York’s political climate has remained tense since Mamdani’s victory. His administration has moved to emphasise affordability and neighbourhood services, while opponents have portrayed his leadership as a test case for the American left. The latest controversy adds a religious dimension to that divide, especially as national Republican politics has increasingly used immigration, Islam and urban governance as campaign themes.
Fine’s comments also fit into a wider pattern of harsh anti-Muslim rhetoric in parts of American politics. Several Republican lawmakers have faced calls for censure or resignation over statements linking Muslims broadly to terrorism, sharia law or national decline. Rights advocates say such language can fuel hostility against ordinary citizens, particularly at a time when Muslim, Arab and Jewish communities have all reported heightened fears linked to the Gaza war and polarised domestic debate.
