Mamdani Defends 'Aunt' Story Amid NYC Race | JQJO

In the final days of New York City's mayoral race, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani defended a story about an aunt afraid to wear a hijab after 9/11, after Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, mocked it and accounts on X flagged his father's sister's LinkedIn profile. Mamdani said he meant his father's cousin, Zehra fuhi, whom he calls an aunt. A New York Post headline and sharp radio interview followed. He accused right-wing media of discrediting him while he campaigns to be the city's first South Asian and Muslim mayor.