Council Member Attacks Mayoral Candidate’s Citizenship, Sparks Backlash

QUEENS, New York — Tensions escalated in Queens politics after Republican Council Member Vickie Paladino questioned the citizenship of Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and mayoral candidate, during a social media exchange.

On Monday night, Paladino used the platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to criticize Mamdani, implying he should be deported due to his “sketchy” path to U.S. citizenship. Paladino referenced a 2019 post by Mamdani where he revealed he could not vote in the 2016 presidential election due to his citizenship status at the time.

“Let’s just talk about how insane it is to elect someone to any major office who hasn’t even been a US citizen for ten years,” Paladino wrote. “Deport,” she concluded in a subsequent tweet.

Mamdani responded vehemently, stating that Paladino’s comments, which echoed the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump‘s administration, reflect a deeper societal issue. He noted that since his campaign began, he has faced death threats and Islamophobic attacks against his family.

“This isn’t just hateful rhetoric,” Mamdani said. “It’s a reflection of what happens when Donald Trump’s authoritarian administration is allowed to operate unchecked.”

Mamdani emphasized that his candidacy stands for inclusivity, declaring, “New York belongs to all of us. The MAGA extremists may try to divide us, but we are not going anywhere.” Mamdani, who immigrated to the U.S. from Uganda at the age of seven, became a naturalized citizen in 2018.

The controversy surrounding Paladino’s comments quickly attracted criticism from various political figures, including Andrew Cuomo, who is a frontrunner in the mayoral race. City Council sources indicate that Paladino’s remarks may be referred to the Council’s Standards and Ethics Committee.

Paladino later claimed she received death threats following the backlash, asserting that her comments were a response to legitimate concerns about immigration and citizenship.

Mayor Eric Adams remarked that a tone-down of rhetoric was needed but did not specifically condemn Paladino’s comments. Meanwhile, criticism of Paladino surged from her opponents and fellow politicians, denouncing her remarks as hateful and damaging to the diverse fabric of New York City.

As the political landscape heats up ahead of the mayoral elections, Mamdani continues to advocate for lawful protection of immigrants, pledging to safeguard New York City’s sanctuary status and increase funding for legal assistance for detained immigrants.