Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tennessee) said that New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani should be deported and denaturalized ahead of the city’s general election in November.

“Zohran ‘little Muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York,” wrote Ogles in a post to social media. “He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings.”

After winning the Democratic primary for the New York City mayoral race on Tuesday, Mamdani is now positioned to challenge incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, Republican Curtis Sliwa and former governor of New York Andrew Cuomo, who announced on Friday that he would remain on the November ballot.

Ogles’ post also included a letter addressed to Attorney General Pam Bondi suggesting that Mamdani be denaturalized.

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“According to public reports, including a June 21, 2025, New York Post article, Mr. Mamdani expressed open solidarity with individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses prior to becoming a U.S. citizen. Specifically, he rapped: ‘Free the Holy Land Five / My guys,’” said the letter.

The Holy Land Foundation is a Muslim charity based in the U.S. Five members of the foundation were convicted of funneling money to Hamas in 2008.

“Publicly praising the Foundation’s convicted leadership as ‘my guys’ raises serious concerns about whether Mr. Mamdani held affiliations or sympathies he failed to disclose during the naturalization process,” wrote Ogles in the letter. “While I understand that some may raise First Amendment concerns about taking legal action based on expressive conduct, such as rap lyrics, speech alone does not preclude accountability where it reasonably suggests underlying conduct relevant to eligibility for naturalization.”

Some Democrats criticized Ogles for his statement, with House Homeland Security Democrats deeming his comments “racist drivel.”

“This type of racism has no place in America. Immigrants make our country great, and I strongly condemn this blatant, anti-immigrant bigotry from Andy Ogles,” said Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan) on social media.

Other Republicans have also railed against Mamdani.

President Donald Trump called the New York City Democratic mayoral candidate a “100% Communist Lunatic” in a post on social media.

Mamdani has addressed racism and hate throughout his campaign efforts, promising voters he would increase the city’s anti-hate crime program by 800 percent as mayor.

“This has been a historically contentious race. One that has filled our airwaves with millions in smears and slander,” said Mamdani. “I hope, I hope now that this primary has come to an end, I can introduce myself once more. Not as you’ve seen me in a 30-second ad or in a mailer in your mailbox, but as how I will lead as your mayor.”

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Kevin Maguire

Article by Kevin Maguire

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