New York Gov. Kathy Hochul put on a hijab at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York just twelve days before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and conservatives across the country had a lot to say about it. The Hochul meme video clip was posted on X by Maze and it’s a stark reminder of who Democrats really are.
In the clip, Hochul could be heard saying, “I want to thank His Excellency, Mr. Albanai, to thank him for welcoming me, making me feel part of the family, to our imam, all the other executives for this organization.” End Wokeness summed it up bluntly: “‘Feminist icon’ NY Governor Hochul just put on a hijab for Muslim men.” Hard to argue with that one.
Conservative commentator Graham Allen didn’t mince words on X, writing, “We are just TWELVE DAYS out till the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and New York Governor Kathy Hochul is wearing a hijab. SHAME ON HER.” Right-wing influencer Matt Van Swol replied to the original clip with a photo of the Twin Towers under attack, writing simply, “New York forgot.” The timing criticism was everywhere, and it wasn’t hard to understand why. You can read more about Hochul hijab controversy and the wave of reactions it triggered.
Democrats hate America, there's nothing else to this.
— Frank (@drastic215x) October 28, 2026
Then there’s the feminist angle, which is really something special. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, posted a meme on X that read, “Democrats: ‘Sexist Republicans are turning America into the Handmaid’s Tale!’ Also Democrats:” with a screenshot of Hochul in the hijab attached. Fox News host Riley Gaines put it even more plainly: “A self-described feminist voluntarily wearing a hijab to not offend/arouse Muslim men. Oh, the irony.”
The New York Young Republican Club also weighed in, writing that Hochul was “bowing to the third world” and adding that the mosque she visited “was almost entirely funded by Kuwait.” They called it foreign meddling, and said the governor was “happy to let them.” Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on any of it.
To be fair, this isn’t the first time Hochul has worn a hijab. She wore one in July 2025 at the funeral of NYPD Detective Didarul Islam, a Muslim officer killed in a Manhattan mass shooting. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, reacted to that one with a simple “Um, wut?” on X, and Hochul fired back that she wore the headscarf to honor a fallen Muslim officer and that “respecting a grieving family’s faith is ‘wut’ leaders and anyone with basic decency would do.” A funeral is a different story than a Sunday visit twelve days before 9/11, but sure, same thing.
The backlash doesn’t stop there. The Port Authority Retired Police Association sent Hochul a letter earlier this month blasting her decision to light up One World Trade Center as part of a proclamation recognizing January as Muslim American Heritage Month. Association president John McDevitt wrote, “Your decision to utilize the WTC for this purpose was extremely tone-deaf, insensitive, and an affront to us, our families, and all those affected by this attack.”
A Hochul spokesperson responded that the governor “has enormous respect for all the families who lost loved ones on 9/11” and will “proudly stand alongside them at this year’s commemoration.”
Maybe she can explain to the families who suffered losses on 9/11 how lighting up the World Trade Center for Muslim Heritage Month and visiting an Islamic center twelve days before the anniversary is all just basic decency. That should go over great.
Make America AMERICAN again.
