Conservatives slammed Gov. Kathy Hochul for wearing a headscarf during a visit to an Islamic center in New York City over the weekend.
The Democratic governor wore a charcoal gray suit and a black scarf mirroring those many Muslim women don to symbolize modesty and their religious faith, according to a clip of the appearance at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York in Queens.
Hochul addressed the congregants during the weekly Friday Jummah prayer service, giving a shout out “his excellency” Tareq Albanai — the United Nation’s permanent representative for Kuwait — thanking him for welcoming her to “be part of the family.”
The center later thanked her for addressing the congregation and touring its school facilities.
“Her visit was a meaningful recognition of the role ICCS plays in New York as a community partner serving and bringing together New Yorkers from across our diverse city and state.”
But some right-wing critics seized on the appearance.
“A self-described feminist voluntarily wearing a hijab to not offend/arouse Muslim men. Oh, the irony,” wrote swimmer and women’s sports activist Riley Gaines.
GOP Texas Congressman Brandon Gill also propped up the photo opp to accuse Dems of hypocrisy.
“Democrats: ‘Sexist Republicans are turning America in to the Handmaid’s Tale!’ Also Democrats:” he wrote on X, with the photo appearing directly underneath.
Republican CNN anchor Scott Jennings shared a video of Hochul addressing the Islamic center in an X post dripping with sarcasm.
“Republicans need to stop this theocratic Handmaid’s Tale bullcrap … wait being told this is the Democratic Governor of New York,” he wrote.
Others brought up that the appearance took place just weeks before the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.
“Twenty-five years after 9/11, New York’s governor is donning a hijab and New York City’s mayor believes that people spontaneously combusted on 9/11. Great job, New Yorkers!” Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro fumed, referring to previous statements Mayor Zohran Mamdani has posted about the 9/11 anniversary.
It’s not out of the ordinary for prominent women, including politicians, to wear hijabs as a show of respect at Muslim-faith events — with Hillary Clinton, former first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, ex-South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and even first daughter Ivanka Trump all having covered up while holding audiences with Islamic leaders and dignitaries.
The episode echoes Hochul taking heat from Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who knocked her for wearing a headscarf at the July 2025 funeral of slain NYPD Detective Didarul Islam, who was Muslim, posting a photo of her in a hijab with the caption “Um, wut?”
Hochul sniped back, telling the New York Times “respecting a grieving family’s faith is ‘wut’ leaders and anyone with basic decency would do.”
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