Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo is facing widespread criticism from Democrats after he laughed during a radio interview in which the host suggested that mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim, would celebrate a terrorist attack like September 11. The exchange was swiftly denounced as Islamophobic by Mamdani and numerous Democratic leaders, including those who have previously disagreed with Mamdani on other issues. The incident comes amid an increasingly heated and racially charged campaign, with Cuomo and his allies accused of using inflammatory rhetoric and imagery to undermine Mamdani's candidacy. Mamdani, who would be New York's first South Asian and Muslim mayor, condemned the remarks as divisive and harmful to the city's Muslim community.