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May 29, 2026

Ocasio-Cortez Seen Wearing Muslim Garb At Event With Mamdani

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared alongside New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an Eid al-Adha celebration held at Macombs Dam Park in the Bronx on May 27, 2026.

Ocasio-Cortez wore a red patterned hijab while addressing attendees at the event, which drew members of the city’s Muslim community for one of Islam’s most significant religious observances.

Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, also participated in the celebration, wearing a kurta that incorporated design elements resembling an Arsenal soccer jersey, a nod to both his cultural background and support for the English football club.

“I am honored to be New York City’s first Muslim Mayor and I am determined to lead through solidarity; together, we are working to ensure every New Yorker can afford the groceries, housing, and child care they need,” he told the crowd.

Video from the Eid al-Adha celebration showed Ocasio-Cortez speaking about unity and solidarity with New York City’s Muslim community as she addressed attendees gathered for the holiday observance.

During her remarks, Ocasio-Cortez encouraged those in attendance to “renew our commitments to one another” and to help “bring light into darkness,” framing the celebration as an opportunity to strengthen community bonds and shared values.

As debate over her appearance later spread online, Ocasio-Cortez defended her decision to wear a hijab during the event, arguing that it was a sign of respect for constituents observing one of Islam’s most important holidays.

Viral video clips circulated by several media outlets and social media accounts appeared to show groups of men in the crowd conversing among themselves while Ocasio-Cortez delivered remarks from the stage during the celebration.

January 22: US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks during a press conference regarding supporting the DEFIANCE Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington...

The footage quickly became a topic of discussion online, with some commentators arguing that the scene highlighted an apparent tension between Ocasio-Cortez’s public advocacy of left-wing feminist causes and traditional gender norms that critics associate with interpretations of Islamic culture.

Meanwhile, last month a federal judge has temporarily blocked Mamdani’s attempt to stop the bankruptcy sale of more than 5,000 rent-subsidized apartments across New York City, posing an early challenge to the socialist mayor’s housing agenda.

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