Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was challenged on Thursday to explain why she posted an image of the Statue of Liberty in a burqa following New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s apparent victory in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary.
The far-right lawmaker, who has a history of anti-Islam remarks, captioned the picture: “This hits hard.”
The post was widely condemned as Islamophobic and interpreted as a dig at Mamdani, who will become New York City’s first Muslim mayor if elected in November. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) blasted the post as “very racist” and “so outside the mainstream.”
Mamdani has been the subject of multiple Islamophobic attacks from the right since his win.
On The Hill’s “Rising” show, co-host Niall Stanage brought up the image of the Statue of Liberty (which, ironically, was initially conceived of as being a Muslim woman in traditional Islamic dress) with Greene and asked: “What did you mean by that?”
Greene responded: “Well, I’m an American woman and I have all the freedoms in the world to never have to bow to a religion that would force me to cover my body up and only see my eyes and my fingertips and that is a major threat for all American women, and I think that’s something that hits hard for all women.”
When Stanage asked whether the post was a specific response to Mamdani’s win, Greene appeared not to hear the question and said: “Oh, a Muslim takeover or possibly Shariah law. That is a great threat to every single American woman, and I think that’s something all women should never want or allow to happen in America.”
Stanage pushed back, noting, “It’s up to the voters of New York City to elect whoever they wish to elect, whether that person is Muslim or Christian or Jewish or anything else. So what is the evidence…”
Greene interrupted: “Well, of course voters have the right to elect that and I’ll maintain my right to say that I think Shariah law and women being forced to wear burqas is the greatest threat to our freedoms as American women.”
When asked directly whether she opposes Muslims holding elected office, Greene avoided answering and said instead: “I am 100% opposed to Shariah law in America. 100% unapologetically opposed to Shariah law in America.”
Watch the exchange here:
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