Sen. Tommy Tuberville is not walking back his comments after drawing backlash for social media posts that compared New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s rhetoric to the threat of radical Islam.
The Alabama Republican told DC News Now that he has “no regrets whatsoever” about the controversy, according to the source material, after critics objected to a post that paired references to the September 11 attacks with an image of Mamdani hosting a Ramadan Iftar at City Hall.
Tuberville had written, “The enemy is inside the gates,” a line that quickly triggered condemnation from Democratic leaders and liberal media figures, according to the report.
Tuberville Points to Mamdani’s Own Statements
Asked to explain the comparison, Tuberville said he was responding to Mamdani’s public rhetoric and political positions.
“He’s made a lot of statements about his stance with Islam and radical Islam… and I’m just kind of repeating what he’s saying,” Tuberville told DC News Now, according to the source.
The senator framed the issue as one of national security and American civic values. He argued that the country should remain grounded in the Constitution and shared moral standards rather than accept what he described as divisive ideologies.
Senator Says His Target Is Radical Ideology
Tuberville also said his criticism was not aimed at Muslims broadly, noting that he has “some great Muslim friends,” according to the report.
But he drew a sharp line at ideologies he believes are hostile to the United States.
“If you teach and preach Sharia law, if you bow down to the Quran, it teaches death to Americans. That don’t fly with me, OK?” Tuberville said, according to the source material.
He later posted, “Radical Islam is the enemy of any freedom-loving American,” and added, “To anyone offended by me calling radical Islamic jihadists the enemy: If the shoe fits, wear it,” according to the report.
Mamdani Fires Back
Mamdani reportedly called the criticism “vile” and argued that Washington politicians should focus more on hungry children than on his dinner guests.
The source also claims that some center-right observers see Mamdani’s decision to host activists who refuse to condemn Hamas as a legitimate concern, though it does not identify those observers or provide direct evidence for that characterization.
Tuberville, a former college football coach, accused Mamdani of driving division in New York.
“We need to make the country better; we don’t need to divide it. That’s what he’s doing in New York,” Tuberville said, according to the report.
A Flashpoint Ahead of 2026
The dispute comes as Republicans continue to emphasize national security and a “peace through strength” approach ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to the source material.
For Tuberville, the backlash appears to have hardened rather than softened his position. For critics, his posts remain an inflammatory attack on Mamdani and Muslim civic participation.
The central fight now is whether Tuberville’s remarks are a blunt warning about radical ideology — or a reckless escalation in an already bitter political climate.
