New York City’s far-left socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing fierce backlash after condemning the U.S. military strike that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and effectively ended the brutal regime.
As a joint U.S.–Israel operation unfolded Saturday targeting senior Iranian leadership in Tehran, Mamdani took to X to criticize President Donald Trump’s decision.
His post has since been viewed roughly 20 million times.
“Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,” Mamdani wrote.
“Bombing cities. Killing civilians.
“Opening a new theater of war.
“Americans do not want this.
“They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change.”
Mamdani added that Americans would prefer “relief from the affordability crisis” before addressing Iranian residents in New York directly:
“You are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders,” he wrote.
“You will be safe here.”
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. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) February 28, 2026
Conservatives Push Back
The mayor’s remarks were immediately criticized by conservatives, who argued his tone appeared sympathetic to the Iranian regime.
The nation’s Islamic Republic government has long designated by the United States as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
“Comrade Mayor is rooting for the Ayatollah,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) posted on X.
“They can chant together.”
Comrade Mayor is rooting for the Ayatollah.
They can chant together. https://t.co/0wi77XMsk8
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 28, 2026
Fox News host Brian Kilmeade wrote:
“Do u say anything pro American ? do u know any Iranians – ?
“they hate @fr_Khamenei they celebrate his death, you should be celebrating his death !
“hes killed thousands of American’s and just killed 30k Iranians, did u even say a word about that?
“You are an embarrassment !! Please quit.”
Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad also rebuked Mamdani:
“I don’t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you, Mamdani, who sympathizes with the regime that killed more than 30,000 unarmed Iranians in less than 24 hours,” she wrote.
“We Iranians do not allow you to lecture us about war while you had nothing to say when the Islamic Republic shot schoolgirls and blinded more than 10,000 innocent people in the streets.
“You were busy celebrating the hijab while women of my beloved country Iran were jailed and raped by Islamic Security forces for removing it.
“And NOW you find your voice to defend the regime?
“No. I will not let you claim the moral high ground.
“The people of Iran want to be free.
“Where were you when they needed solidarity?”
To you, Zohran Mamdani! You stayed quiet when we have faced massacre, when Islamic Republic assassins were sent here in New York to kill us, stay quiet now!
STOP lecturing us Iranians about peace.
I don’t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you, Mamdani, who… https://t.co/Mj94FmZIdm
— Masih Alinejad 🏳️ (@AlinejadMasih) February 28, 2026
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman added:
“How is it that you can’t differentiate between good and evil? Why is this so hard for you?”
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) weighed in as well:
“It takes a particular kind of audacity, or ignorance, for a city mayor to appoint himself the conscience of American foreign policy while his constituents step over garbage on their way to work.
“History will not remember his bravery.
“It will not remember him at all.”
Republican New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino wrote:
“Iranian New Yorkers are thrilled today and see right through you.”
GOP Councilwoman Inna Vernikov added:
“When Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, UAE, Bahrain all support today’s operation eliminating world’s #1 sponsor of terror, but New York City’s Mayor @ZohranMamdani is shilling for Iran.”
Mamdani’s office has not responded to the backlash.
Strike Eliminates Longtime Iranian Leader
Shortly after Mamdani’s post, President Donald Trump and Israeli officials confirmed that the coordinated operation resulted in Khamenei’s death.
Israeli leaders said Khamenei’s compound and offices in downtown Tehran were reduced to rubble following a targeted strike.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Iran program, described Khamenei as a calculating authoritarian.
“Khamenei was the contemporary Middle East’s longest-serving autocrat,” Taleblu said in a statement.
“He did not get to be that way by being a gambler.
“Khamenei was an ideologue, but one who ruthlessly pursued the preservation and protection of his ideology, often taking two steps forward and one step back.”
As celebrations reportedly broke out among some Iranian dissidents abroad, Mamdani’s statement placed him squarely at odds with many conservatives and with a growing number of Iranian Americans who view the strike as a blow against a regime they consider brutal and oppressive.
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