New York City’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, faced a storm of criticism on social media following his outspoken denouncement of President Trump’s military actions against Iran.
Mamdani criticized the airstrikes conducted by the U.S. and Israel early Saturday morning, which triggered a series of retaliatory attacks from Iran.
These events culminated in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as confirmed by Donald Trump earlier today.
Describing the situation as “a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,” Mamdani also offered assurances to Iranians, stating, “they will be safe here” in New York City.
The mayor’s comments were met with backlash, with critics highlighting the insensitivity of his remarks, especially given that many Iranians in the U.S. fled the country after the tumultuous Iranian Revolution of 1979, which saw the rise of the Islamic Republic’s oppressive regime.
The revolution transformed Iran from a secular monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi into an Islamist theocracy, imposing strict religious laws and resulting in the massacre of thousands of civilians.
As many as four million Iranians fled following the regime change. The US is now home to the biggest population of Iranians outside of Iran itself. Many took to the streets of major American cities this afternoon to celebrate the Ayatollah’s death.
Despite the historical context, Mamdani wrote: ‘Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression. Bombing cities. Killing civilians.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was slammed online for speaking out against President Trump’s strike on Iran in the early hours of Saturday morning
The NYC Mayor’s comments come hours after the US and Israel began hitting Iranian targets around 1.15am on Saturday to ‘dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus’
Iran launched retaliatory attacks, causing US forces and surrounding Middle Eastern countries to ‘defend against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,’ CENTCOM said
‘Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. They want peace.
‘I am focused on making sure that every New Yorker is safe. I have been in contact with our Police Commissioner and emergency management officials.
‘We are taking proactive steps, including increasing coordination across agencies and enhancing patrols of sensitive locations out of an abundance of caution.
‘Additionally, I want to speak directly to Iranian New Yorkers: you are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders. You will be safe here,’ he concluded.
His talk of peace was poorly received online as many slammed the New York City mayor for his comments – especially considering the Iranian Regime has slaughtered hundreds of innocent civilians protesting in recent months.
The Iranian death toll at the hands of the Ayatollah’s regime in the last year alone is estimated to be more than 30,000, according to The Guardian.
‘Mamdani, you’re being a hypocrite. Where were you when the cruel Iranian regime slaughtered thousands of innocent civilians,’ one user asked.
‘NYC elected you, not America,’ a comment read.
‘Yeah…pretty sure 90% of your Iranian New Yorkers are thrilled about this. Unlike you,’ said another.
A third comment quipped: ‘If it weren’t for social media… we wouldn’t have to listen to what a mayor of a city thinks about foreign affairs.’
‘Do you not see the Iranians celebrating the Iranians freedom? They are celebrating President Trump thanking him. I’m watching it right now in Los Angeles. President Trump always win. Love Love Love our President!’
‘Stay focus on NYC. International stage is not for you,’ another said.
‘Iranian New Yorkers are thrilled today and see right through you.’
Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also spoke out against the strikes, and accused the president of having ‘dragged’ the American people ‘into a war they did not want.’
‘This war is unlawful. It is unnecessary. And it will be catastrophic,’ she said in a statement posted on X.
The US military used unmanned drones after President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran on Saturday
‘Mr President: this was not an inevitability. This is a deliberate choice of aggression when diplomacy and security were within reach. Stop lying to the American people,’ she continued.
The NYC Mayor’s comments come hours after the US and Israel began hitting Iranian targets around 1.15am on Saturday to ‘dismantle the Iranian regime’s security apparatus.’
The areas that were hit first ‘posed an imminent threat,’ CENTCOM said in a statement.
‘Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields,’ it said.
After the initial strikes, Iran launched retaliatory attacks, causing US forces and surrounding Middle Eastern countries to ‘defend against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,’ CENTCOM said.
The US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain was hit by an Iranian missile, but the command post said damage was minimal to US installations. There were no US casualties or combat-related injuries, CENTCOM said.
Admiral Brad Cooper called President Donald Trump’s strikes a ‘bold action’ and thanked ‘our brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, guardians, and Coast Guardsmen’ for answering the call.
‘Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime, a vicious group of very hard, terrible people,’ the president said in a post on social media.
The $35,000 drones used the drones starting around 1.15am to hit Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, among other places
The strikes resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confirmed by the president on Saturday.
In a post on Truth Social, he said: ‘Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.
‘He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.’
Earlier reports said his body was found under rubble in his compound in Iran after US and Israeli airstrikes.
In a televised address on Saturday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister said that airstrikes in Iran had destroyed the Supreme Leader’s compound, and added that ‘all indications show this tyrant is no longer with us.’ However, Iranian state media has denied the claims.
