Fact Check: False Claims Spread After Mamdani Wins NYC Mayoral Race

Following his election as mayor of New York in early November, Zohran Mamdani remains the focus of several allegations, some of which are fa...

Following his election as mayor of New York in early November, Zohran Mamdani remains the focus of several allegations, some of which are false, that are spreading online. okay1Fact Check examines three of these claims.

Zohran MamdaniThe mayoral election campaign in New York City was marked bynumerous incorrect and deceptive statements spreading across the internet, and his victory on November 4 did not bring them to an end.

Numerous social media posts currently highlight supposed resignations following Mamdani's win, businesses withdrawing their offerings, reactions from celebrities, and ongoing concerns about Mamdani's Muslim identity.

okay1Fact checking examines three statements more closely.

Did the New York City Fire Department chief step down due to Mamdani's success?

Claim: In a video posted on TikTok that has been watched more than 582,000 times, a woman claims that the New York City Fire Department (NYFD) chief stepped down following Zohran Mamdani's victory.

okay1Fact check: True

Posts on X and TikTok claiming that thousands of New York Police Department (NYPD) officers had quit after Mamdani's win, or that trucking companies were halting activities in the city, were false or humorous, but this one is genuine.

NYFD Commissioner Robert Tucker submitted his resignation one day following Mamdani's election. The timing was unusual since the commissioner usually waits until a successor is appointed before stepping down.

Tucker mentioned in an interview with the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post that he has differing views from the newly elected mayor, pointing to ideological differences.

I believe I could have performed effectively under his leadership, but our ideological perspectives differ. Hence, I think he is entitled to the respect of selecting his own commissioner, someone who might be more in line with his views than I am.

Confusing the issue: regarding an AI-created video with sincerity

ClaimA post on X, which had 4.4 million views when it was written, features a video of Elon Musk, as stated by the user, that outlines "what is happening in America today, why @ZohranKMamdani won in New York City, and the dangers facing our nation and the world."

okay1Fact check: Fake

If you're looking for a preview of a future where distinguishing truth from falsehood becomes impossible, this is worth viewing solely for that purpose.

Although the user mentions he is "fairly certain but not completely sure" that it's AI, he still takes the content seriously, stating: "What Elon says here is one of the most significant things you'll watch this year."

It's a dangerous path to treat AI-generated content as if it were truly spoken by the individual shown. Frequently, when these videos are shared again, the labels or descriptions indicating they are AI-created get removed.

The YouTube channel that posted the video on November 6 provided a straightforward disclaimer, noting that it employed "a synthesized voice that is not Elon Musk's" and added: "We use visual lip-syncing and voice-over narration to align the spoken words with the on-screen footage, solely to improve clarity, deliver a cinematic feel, and make the content more appealing to viewers."

Here is an example of the high level of sophistication in AI-generated content: the replication of Musk's voice is remarkably realistic, even though the video sometimes experiences glitches or becomes misaligned.

Artificial intelligence-created videos offer a novel method of giving speech to public personalities. A more conventional technique involves the creation of fake news pieces, like this one that suggested how prominent American attorney Alan Dershowitz would respond to Mamdani's victory, a statement that Dershowitz later refuted making.

It is crucial to check the sources and confirm that statements are correctly linked to the actual individual who made them.

Did the New York Jets' cheerleaders' uniforms undergo any changes following Mamdani's victory?

ClaimA single post on X features women in green niqabs and matching outfits with the Jets logo displayed prominently. The added text states: "The new cheerleaders for the New York Jets arriving in 2026."

okay1Fact check: Fake

A reverse image search revealed numerous comparable posts on different social media sites, such as Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram, all uploaded since November 7.

The posts – along with the comments beneath them – appear to view the image as a humorous take on the potential outcomes of Mamdani's victory, yet the picture is evidently fake.

The unclear edges around the faces and stiff postures suggest an image created by artificial intelligence. The Jets' emblem is an outdated design, no longer used by the team since 2023. The mentioned reverse image search also found several videos marked with AI watermarks.

The New York Jets, a team in the NFL, do not include religious symbols in their team image. Although hijabs are occasionally worn byfemale athletesIn various countries, the niqab is uncommon in athletic settings.

A report from the Center for the Study of Organized Hate, a non-profit research organization located in Washington DC, revealed an "overall focus on Islamophobia, portraying Mamdani as a terrorist, jihadist, or extreme Muslim" within social media discussions about the recent election.

On October 24, Mamdani conducted a press conference discussing the Islamophobia he and Muslim New Yorkers have faced. "Although my rivals in this campaign have promoted hatred, this is only a small example of what many experience daily throughout the city," he stated.

Mamdani has frequently faced accusations that he adheres to extreme religious views. As we discussed in aprevious article, the frequently made claims that he wants to enforce Sharia law are entirely false. In the context of allegations that Mamdani supports Islamic extremism, the image above can be viewed as a fictional extension of that concern.