Latest news with #HolyLandFive
New York Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Donald Trump's ‘dream' Democrat, the left embraces radical Islam and other commentary
From the left: Donald Trump's 'Dream' Democrat Zohran Mamdani is 'running on old ideas that fail everywhere they are tried,' Ryan Clancy notes at The Hill. His victory will be 'the anchor that sinks New York City' and also doom Democrats nationally. Any Dem 'with influence and a spine' should point to San Francisco, which 'after years of growing disorder and homelessness' dumped its far-left leadership. Mamdani's rent freeze will 'reduce housing supply and worsen affordability.' His plan for city-owned supermarkets is unknown in any 'large U.S. or European cities,' though 'Venezuela — where 40 percent of the people don't have enough food to eat — has nearly 20,000 of them.' Mamdani bragged that he is Trump's worst nightmare, but given his radical past he's turned out to be Trump's 'dream candidate.' Conservative: The Left Embraces Radical Islam Zohran Mamdani's 'unhealthy obsession with Israel' proves 'how radical Islam is gaining acceptance on the left,' contends The Wall Street Journal's Sadanand Dhume. The 'barrage of attacks' centered on Mamdani's Muslim background 'make little sense,' since nowhere has he 'hinted at imposing Shariah, or Islamic law.' Still, he 'has a long record of anti-Israel activity' and has 'backed boycotting Israeli institutions.' He once 'praised the Holy Land Five,' who were convicted 'of providing material support for terrorism by funding Hamas.' 'All this may not make Mr. Mamdani an Islamist, but it does make him appear sympathetic to Islamists.' Leftists 'and Islamists have formed a de facto alliance based on their common contempt for Israel in particular and the West in general.' Business desk: What Cali Can Learn from Va. 'When it comes to cultivating entrepreneurs, Virginia has a few lessons to teach California,' argues The Washington Times' editorial board. Virginia has held a 'top five spot on CNBC's 'Top State for Business' list' since 2018. California 'achieves a pathetic, middle-of-the-pack finish,' because its 'Legislature's Democratic supermajority created the worst possible environment for commerce.' 'What sets Virginia apart is its willingness to undergo a regulatory diet.' Just last week, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced 'that 11 million words from Virginia's official guidance documents would be eliminated after a quarter of the state's red tape was removed.' 'California, by contrast, imposes the most regulatory angst of any state.' Gov. Gavin Newsom 'needs to alter his approach'; he can start by following Youngkin's lead. From the right: Fed Boss' Elitist Arrogance Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell 'sort of stepped in it' in responding to criticism of his agency's $2.5 billion building renovations, snarks Hot Air's Beege Welborn. 'In April, the NY Post broke the story' on the Feds' ' 'Palace of Versailles' type home remodel.' Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought then told Powell President Trump wasn't happy, and the fed boss 'answered in a huffy note back that the Post report of excesses was erroneous.' But OMB basically confirmed the story, and now Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte 'has called for a congressional investigation into Powell and the renovations' and OMB is 'breathing down Powell's neck, too.' Why would Powell antagonize 'a president who wants him gone over something so disgustingly elite'? Campus watch: Why I'm Leaving Columbia 'Leaving my dream job wasn't an easy choice, but Columbia's latest scandal makes it crystal clear why I had to go,' laments Shai Davidson at Tablet. In text messages, acting President Claire Shipman 'downplayed the pro-Hamas movement on campus, belittled Jewish students' concerns as irrational, and mocked a congressional probe on the issue as 'Capitol Hill nonsense.' ' Recently, 'President Shipman bestowed the university's highest honor on a professor who joined the hate-filled protests.' 'Columbia's failed leadership, morally bankrupt faculty' and indifference 'have shattered my respect' for the school. Once 'a beacon of truth and discovery,' Columbia has become 'a battleground for extremists.' It's 'made my life so unbearable I chose to leave' — but they'll never 'silence me.' — Compiled by The Post Editorial Board
Indian Express
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Can Trump revoke Musk and Mamdani of their US citizenship?
US President Donald Trump and members of his administration have hinted at the possibility of revoking the citizenship of Zohran Mamdani, a New York City mayoral candidate, and Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and former aide of the president. While Mamdani has been accused by conservative lawmakers of harbouring extremist sympathies, Musk has drawn Trump's ire over his criticism of the newly passed 'Big Beautiful Bill,' which curbs electric vehicle tax credits that largely benefit Musk's businesses, among other changes such as tax cuts. But can the US government actually strip Musk and Mamdani of their citizenship? Zohran Mamdani, 33, was born in Kampala, Uganda, to Indian-origin parents. He moved to New York at the age of seven. At a news conference this week, Trump said if Mamdani 'prevents ICE from doing its job, then we'll have to arrest him.' He further added, 'We don't need a communist in this country, but if we have one, I'm going to be watching over him very carefully on behalf of the nation.' Mamdani, who became a naturalised citizen in 2018, responded by saying, 'The President of the United States just threatened to have me arrested, stripped of my citizenship, put in a detention camp and deported—not because I have broken any law but because I will refuse to let ICE terrorise our city.' My statement on Donald Trump's threat to deport me and his praise for Eric Adams, who the President 'helped out' of legal accountability. — Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) July 1, 2025 On June 26, Republican Representative Andy Ogles wrote to Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a Department of Justice probe into Mamdani's naturalisation, citing allegations of support for individuals linked to terrorism. In a public post, Ogles referred to Mamdani as a 'communist who will destroy the great City of New York' and claimed he had shown 'material support for terrorism.' He cited a rap lyric by Mamdani referencing the 'Holy Land Five,' a group convicted in 2008 for providing support to Hamas. Mamdani had rapped: 'Free the Holy Land Five / My guys.' Zohran 'little muhammad' Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York. He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings. Attached is my letter to @AGPamBondi. — Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) June 26, 2025 However, even if Mamdani is denaturalised, he wouldn't automatically be deported. He would revert to his previous status as a lawful permanent resident—a green card holder. Once a close ally and major donor to his re-election campaign, Musk has now found himself at odds with the Trump administration over fiscal policy. The newly passed spending bill slashes EV tax credits, threatening the profitability of Tesla vehicles in the US. Trump, in a Truth Social post, wrote: 'Without subsidies, Elon would probably have to close up shop and head back home to South Africa.' He later told reporters: 'We'll have to take a look. We might have to put DOGE on Elon,' referring to the Department of Government Efficiency once led by Musk. Musk, born in 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa, also holds Canadian citizenship through his mother. He moved to Canada at 17, and later to the US in 1992 to study at the University of Pennsylvania. Musk became a US citizen in 2002. Although Musk was reported to have started working in the US without proper authorisation, he has denied any violations. 'I was in fact allowed to work in the US,' Musk posted on X. 'I was on a J-1 visa that transitioned to an H-1B.' Yes—but only on specific legal grounds. Naturalised citizens can be denaturalised if they obtained citizenship through fraud, willful misrepresentation, or concealment of a material fact. Other rare cases include involvement in terrorism, war crimes, or joining a foreign military/government. On June 11, the Justice Department issued a memo prioritising denaturalisation for individuals who illegally obtained citizenship. The department also cited cases of concealment of serious criminal activity during the naturalisation process. For example, in June, the Justice Department denaturalised Elliott Duke, a UK-born former US soldier convicted of child sex abuse crimes. He was found to have concealed his offences during his 2013 citizenship application. Legal experts say it's extremely unlikely. Michael Kagan, a professor of law at the University of Nevada, told Time: 'Denaturalisation is limited to cases where the government can prove material fraud in their original applications. It is rare and unlikely for either Musk or Mamdani. This appears to be irresponsible rhetoric designed to intimidate political opponents.' As per a report by Time, currently, denaturalisation is legally permitted only in very limited cases: The Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) explains that the federal government must prove fraud by 'clear, convincing, and unequivocal evidence' in civil court—or 'beyond a reasonable doubt' in criminal cases, Time reported. 'Many of the cases for denaturalisation based on lack of good moral character involve individuals who committed crimes prior to naturalisation, but were not arrested or charged until afterward,' the ILRC noted. Denaturalisation has historically been rare in the US and often linked to proven fraud or serious crimes like war crimes or terrorism. According to the Department of Justice, the process involves either 'illegally procured' naturalisation or naturalisation gained through 'concealment of a material fact or by willful misrepresentation.' Famous denaturalisation cases include: Emma Goldman, an anarchist activist deported in 1919 for opposing World War I and military conscription. Another was of Paul Knauer, a naturalised German American denaturalised in 1946 for concealing his ties to a Nazi-linked organisation. An Al Jazeera report also pointed out that denaturalisation cases surged during the 'Red Scare' and World War II era, but declined significantly after a landmark 1967 Supreme Court ruling in Afroyim v. Rusk, which limited the government's ability to revoke citizenship without clear legal grounds. And, as the Sovereign Citizen and Supreme Court precedent make clear, 'being a 'loyal American'' is no longer a legal requirement for citizenship.
Politico
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Gillibrand apologizes to Mamdani over ‘jihad' comments
Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim mayor. Gillibrand was on WNYC's 'The Brian Lehrer Show' Thursday when a caller to the radio program asked about holding Mamdani accountable for 'glorifying' Hamas. Mamdani has declined to condemn people using the phrase 'globalize the intifada,' even though he said he doesn't use it himself, and once rapped his support for the 'Holy Land Five' who were convicted for running a charity that funded Hamas. Gillibrand said that Jewish New Yorkers were alarmed by Mamdani's past statements. And when Lehrer noted that there's no evidence of Mamdani himself supporting Hamas or violent jihad, she reacted defensively and said she would like to sit down with Mamdani and talk through the issues with him. Gillibrand also said he should denounce the phrase 'globalize the intifada.' The senator's comments and tone were met with outrage from Mamdani supporters, some of whom protested outside her office and called for her resignation. They even earned her an apparent rebuke from Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul: 'No one should be subjected to any comments that slur their ethnicity, their religious beliefs, and we condemn that anywhere it rears its head in the state of New York.' The statement from Hochul came after she was asked by a reporter to 'comment on the racism [Mamdani] is already facing, including from New York's own Kirsten Gillibrand.' Gillibrand had previously backed away from her comment, with her office releasing a statement Friday saying she 'misspoke.' Gillibrand and Mamdani had previously spoken by phone on Wednesday when she congratulated him the day after winning the Democratic mayoral primary. Mamdani campaign spokesperson Andrew Epstein confirmed the Monday night call, adding that the apology was accepted and the two agreed to 'set a path to move forward productively.'
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Awkward moment: Zohran Mamdani caught off guard as interviewer plays his 2019 rap in apron on live TV
Zohran Mamdani, while appearing on Erin Burnett OutFront, was caught off guard after the interviewer decided to play his old rap video from 2019 during the live interview on CNN. Zohran Mamdani tried to keep a straight face as an interviewer played his 2019 rap video, 'Nani.'. (Screengrab) Burnett, during her conversation with Mamdani, suddenly played a portion of the assemblyman's rap music video, 'Nani.' He had shared the video in 2019 on YouTube under the name Mr. Cardamom. In the throwback clip, Mamdani is featured alongside his friends and Indian-born British-American actress Madhur Jaffrey. Throughout the video, they dance at various places, including a food truck. At one point, Mamdani is seen rapping while wearing an apron without anything underneath. What does the interview show? During the interview, Burnett starts playing videos from Mamdani's recent campaigns, including one in which he talks about his place of birth and how he got his middle name. As the interview continues, a snippet from his appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast appears on the screen. What follows is Burnett introducing the politician's creative side and playing a portion of the rap video. As the rap continues, Mamdani, clearly caught off guard, tries to maintain his composure. However, eventually, he gives in and starts laughing. 'I didn't think it was going to be on CNN,' he says. The video is posted on the official X profile of the talk show with a caption that reads, 'Watch as #NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani watches his past performance as a rapper and responds to critics who say he's not ready to run New York. He speaks one-on-one with @ErinBurnett.' In 2017, Mamdani released a song titled Salam. In his music video, he praised five men, 'Holy Land Five'. Also Read: Philadelphia CEO questions Zohran Mamdani's goals, asks 'Who is paying for all of this?' However, they were later convicted of donating over $12 million to Hamas. The group was also found guilty of tax fraud and money laundering, in addition to supporting terrorism.
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The Independent
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Zohran Mamdani's cringe moment as CNN's Erin Burnett makes him watch his 2019 rap video
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani found himself awkwardly confronted with a resurfaced 2019 rap video during a live interview on CNN. Mamdani, 33, appeared Thursday on Erin Burnett OutFront, where the host unexpectedly reminded audiences that the New York assembly member was an aspiring rapper who went by Mr. Cardamom. Burnett played a portion of his music video 'Nani,' which is still on YouTube, as Mamdani tried to keep a straight face through the embarrassment. The clip captured Burnett, friends, and Indian -born British-American actress Madhur Jaffrey, dancing in a food truck. In one scene, Mamdani wore an apron with nothing underneath. 'Once you do it, it's out there,' Burnett told Mamdani once the clip was over. 'I didn't think it was going to be on CNN,' Mamdani quipped, with a shy smile. Elsewhere, Burnett pressed Mamdani on whether critics' concerns that he may not be 'ready now' to govern America's largest city were valid. 'I would say a campaign offers a glimpse into what an administration would look like, and we built a campaign the likes of which the city has not seen in a long time,' he responded. This isn't the first time Mamdani's attempted music career piqued public interest. In a 2017 song titled Salam, Mamdani praised the "Holy Land Five' — five men convicted in 2008 of donating over $12 million to Hamas. The group was found guilty on 108 counts, including supporting terrorism, tax fraud, and money laundering. 'My love to the Holy Land Five. You better look 'em up,' Mamdani sang as Mr. Cardamom. Mamdani's rap background hasn't exactly won over 50 Cent, however, who offered him a 'first-class one-way ticket' out of New York after the mayoral candidate proposed raising his taxes. On Wednesday, the 'In Da Club' rapper criticized Mamdani's proposal in a social media post, writing, 'Where did he come from[?] Whose friend is this? I'm not feeling this plan no.' 'I will give him $258,750 and a first class one way ticket away from NY. I'm telling [President Donald] Trump what he said too!' 50 Cent added.
