Zohran Mamdan’s defense of Anwar al-Awlaki, particularly his blaming of the FBI for radicalizing the cleric and his claims about a ‘hooker fetish,’ has ignited a firestorm of criticism. In a series of tweets from 2015, Mamdan, then 23, questioned the FBI’s extensive surveillance of al-Awlaki, suggesting it pushed him toward al-Qaeda. The tweets, unearthed recently, revealed Mamdan’s bizarre assertion that the FBI’s surveillance, coupled with the cleric’s reported fondness for prostitutes, led al-Awlaki to embrace extremist ideologies. "Why no proper interrogation of what it means for FBI to have conducted extensive surv. into Awlaki’s private life?," Mamdan wrote. "How could #Awlaki have ever trusted@FBI to not release surveillance esp. if he continued to critique [the] state? Why no further discussion of how #Awlaki’s knowledge of surv. eventually led him to #alqaeda? Or what that says about [the] efficacy of surv?"

Mamdan’s comments followed a New York Times report detailing the surveillance. The responses have been overwhelmingly critical, with 9/11 victims’ families and US anti-terror officials condemning the remarks. Retired Long Island Rep. Peter King, who chaired the House Homeland Security Committee, described the blaming of the United States for al-Awlaki’s actions as "like blaming the Jews for Hitler." Former FDNY Lt. Jim McCaffrey, whose brother-in-law, FDNY Battalion 7 Chief Orio Palmer, perished at Ground Zero, echoed this sentiment, calling Mamdan’s assertion "very offensive to 9/11 victims and their families." McCaffrey highlighted the FBI’s role in investigating al-Awlaki’s connections to al-Qaeda, emphasizing that Mamdan’s blame was "eye-opening" and "frightening," especially given the candidate’s current position as a leading contender for New York City’s mayoral race.

Tom Von Essen, the city fire commissioner during 9/11, warned that Mamdan’s stance aligns with the approach of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, a policy that "can not end well." King further criticized Mamdan’s attempt to rationalize al-Awlaki’s involvement with al-Qaeda, stating that the candidate was "making excuses and rationalizing al-Awlaki joining al Qaeda." He argued that Mamdan’s actions should disqualify him from seeking the mayoral office. "Al-Awlaki was an evil man. It was a great victory to eliminate him from the face of the Earth," King asserted.

Intelligence sources have indicated that al-Awlaki’s followers were linked to approximately a quarter of the Islamists convicted of terrorism-related offenses in the United States from 2007 until his death. Mamdan’s social media presence, including slick videos and provocative posts, previously fueled his victory over ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary. However, he has faced backlash for other controversial content, including a "sick" video mocking Hanukkah and a demonstration of "BDS" chants advocating a boycott of Israel. A Jewish advocacy group, StopAntisemitism, condemned the candidate’s posts. These incidents further complicate Mamdan’s campaign, raising concerns about his judgment and rhetoric. The controversy underscores the sensitivities surrounding the 9/11 attacks and the ongoing struggle against terrorism.