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Lefty Actress Take Heat For Taking Aim At NYC Mayor Elect

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Zohran Mamdani
Photo Credit: Bingjiefu He, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Actress Debra Messing sparked controversy on Election Day after reposting a political meme suggesting that New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, was a “jihadist.”

As voters across the city headed to the polls Tuesday, the 57-year-old “Will & Grace” star went on a rampage about Mamdani, making multiple posts cautioning about electing the then-candidate her Instagram Stories throughout the day.

At one point, she shared an edited image from an account called The Persian Jewess.

The meme depicted a mock ballot featuring two options: “A Democrat. Just a Democrat,” and “An actual communist jihadist. A literal Karl Marx-quoting, America-hating jihadist.”

The original post included a caption urging followers to vote for former New York Governor and Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, warning that the mayoral race was “the battle for Democracy itself.” The message concluded with the hashtag #ZohranMamdani.

Social media users quickly condemned Messing for sharing the meme. Many accused her of promoting Islamophobia by labeling Mamdani a jihadist, a word often linked with violent extremism.

“Debra Messing has posted 91 Instagram stories in the past 24 hours. I think Zohran has actually broken her brain,” one person wrote on X. Another added, “Someone get her a lithium prescription.”

Others mocked the actress’s posting spree, calling it “fascinating albeit kinda scary to watch,” and urging, “Someone get her a lithium prescription.”

“Contemplating popping some popcorn and unblocking Debra Messing on social media just to watch the glorious crash out,” someone else wrote.

Messing, who voted early for former Governor Andrew Cuomo, previously stated she supported him because “we need someone with experience.”

She wrote on Instagram, “Our city is too massive, complex, and consequential to have someone 33 years old who has never held a job, and missed 80% of his votes as Councilman.”

On the red carpet, Messing reiterated that she voted for Cuomo because “he has decades of experience” and said that “it does not feel safe in New York right now.”

She added that she understood Mamdani’s appeal to younger voters but questioned his readiness.

“New York City is the financial center of our country,” she said. “I don’t think he has the experience for the job.”

In a follow-up comment on Instagram, Messing clarified that she had “nothing against socialism” but objected to Mamdani’s alleged record.

“I voted against Mamdani because he celebrated 9/11,” she claimed. “The same people who did 9/11 did Oct. 7. I just don’t want a mayor who sides with terrorists.”

During his campaign, Mamdani posed for a photo with Imam Siraj Wahhaj while visiting a Brooklyn mosque, later posting the image on X.

Wahhaj was once named as a possible conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing but was never charged. The photo drew renewed attention to Mamdani’s associations.

Mamdani has also faced criticism for his stance on antisemitism and Israel.

Earlier this year, he faced scrutiny for not immediately rejecting the phrase “globalize the intifada,” widely seen as a call for violence against Jews.

Following public backlash, Mamdani later stated he would not use or promote the slogan.

In another controversial post, Messing shared a graphic listing “things we don’t see Jews doing,” which included “flying planes into buildings,” “bombing schools and hospitals,” and “forcing young girls to marry old men.”

She also posted text suggesting that “in Islam, [followers] are commanded to lie if it means spreading Islam,” urging readers to “look at Mamdani” and “watch his actions.”

Mamdani defeated Cuomo in June’s Democratic primary by 13 points, prompting the former governor to re-enter the race as an independent.

President Donald Trump endorsed Cuomo on the eve of the election.

“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“He was nothing as an Assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as Mayor of potentially, again, the Greatest City in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former Glory!”

The president added, “A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job.”

Mamdani responded to Trump’s comments with a brief post on X: “Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this.”

When speaking with Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show,” Mamdani discussed the significance of grassroots organizing over political endorsements.

“Our politics and the media that covers it are often focused on endorsements,” he said.

“What we showed was that the days of endorsements deciding elections, those days have come to an end. It’s the people who build up a campaign.”

Mamdani became the first openly socialist mayor in New York City history, winning 50% of the vote.

Cuomo received 41.4%, while Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa captured 7.7%, according to preliminary results.

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani promoted progressive policies centered on affordability, including rent freezes, free bus service, city-run grocery stores, and expanded childcare access.

His platform attracted strong backing from progressive figures such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Other Democratic leaders offered mixed reactions. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not endorse Mamdani, while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and New York Governor Kathy Hochul eventually offered their support following his primary win.

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