A video clip showing Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wearing a hijab during an Eid al-Adha celebration in New York City has ignited a wave of criticism from conservative commentators across social media platforms.
Eid al-Adha Celebration in the Bronx
Wednesday marked the beginning of Eid al-Adha, a significant Muslim holiday commemorating the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. This year, the observance runs from May 27 to May 30. The event in the Bronx, attended by hundreds, featured speeches from both Ocasio-Cortez and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Parts of the Bronx fall within Ocasio-Cortez's congressional district.
At the gathering, Ocasio-Cortez donned a hijab, while Mayor Mamdani wore a kurta styled after the Arsenal soccer team's uniform. A kurta is a traditional garment commonly worn by Muslims, typically falling to the knees with a collar and long sleeves. Mamdani, who is New York City's first Muslim mayor, proudly highlighted this fact in a tweet about the event.
Conservative Backlash on Social Media
A brief clip of Ocasio-Cortez addressing the crowd, with Mayor Mamdani standing silently behind her, has circulated widely online, amassing hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of comments. Conservative observers have accused the congresswoman of hypocrisy for wearing the religious garment.
One user on X wrote: "AOC wearing a hijab exposes the total moral bankruptcy of the radical left. This theatrical Marxist simpleton screams about patriarchy while cosplaying in a garment mandated by brutal theocracies. Iranian morality police execute women over this exact covering. Yet this lobotomized progressive parasite treats their subjugation as a trendy accessory."
Another user on X commented: "You're the woman who tried to convince other women that the U.S. was becoming Gilead, and they needed to fight to not become Handmaids. You have just accepted, endorsed, and wore the clothes required to be one. You are Gilead now. You are telling other women to be Handmaids." This reference alludes to the fictional totalitarian patriarchal theocracy in Margaret Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale.
On Instagram, a user wrote: "The Marxist wearing a hijab. Marxism is fundamentally incompatible with Islam, or any religion." Another questioned: "They find Christianity oppressive but she is ok with this?"
Mixed Reactions and Support
Despite the backlash, some social media users defended Ocasio-Cortez. One X user remarked: "Oh no, someone's showing respect to a religion in the most diverse city in the country. WHATEVER SHOULD WE DO?!" Another added: "Turning a simple Eid gesture into full treason meltdown? Peak fragile outrage addiction. That's not exposing pandering - it's your crew's xenophobia jones flaring for cheap clicks while real problems get ignored. Stay pressed, clowns."
The Daily Mail has reached out to the offices of both Ocasio-Cortez and Mayor Mamdani for comment.
