# Giuliani, Mamdani, and the GOP's Islamophobia

> On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a Giuliani rant showed how far the Republican party has moved on Muslims.
- Title: Giuliani, Mamdani, and the GOP's Islamophobia · Vox | Shortify
- Summary: On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a Giuliani rant showed how far the Republican party has moved on Muslims. In 2001, most politicians tried to cool…
- Keywords: islamophobia, republicans, 9/11, midterms, mamdani, news, culture, Giuliani, GOP's, Vox
- Source: Vox — https://vox.com/today-explained-newsletter/502676/september-11-anniversary-republican-party-islamophobia-giuliani-mamdani
- Author: Cameron Peters
- Published: 2026-09-11T22:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: islamophobia, republicans, 9/11, midterms, mamdani, news, culture
## A memorial, and a screed
At New York's 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony, former mayor Rudy Giuliani singled out Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who is Muslim, over his presence at the commemorations.
## The rant itself is not the story
Giuliani is now better known as Trump's twice-disbarred former lawyer than as America's mayor. Mamdani showed up anyway and shook his hand.
## What changed since 2001
Ugly anti-Muslim politics surged right after the attacks too. The difference now is that many politicians then worked to tamp it down instead of feeding it.
## It passed the dinner table test
Scholar Nathan Lean argues anti-Muslim prejudice is now openly sayable and built into institutions in a way bigotry toward other groups no longer is.

> You can say things about Muslims with basic impunity today.
## Cruz in Dallas
At the GOP's midterm convention, Sen. Ted Cruz claimed "communism" and "Islamism" had joined forces against Republicans because they share the same enemies.

> They hate Christians. They hate Jews. They hate capitalism.
## Crowd yells "he should be shot"
As Cruz named Mamdani, Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed, and Texas candidate James Talarico, attendees shouted that one of them should be shot.
## Michigan and Texas on the front lines
Rep. Nancy Mace called every Muslim officeholder in America a "Trojan horse." In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has turned the rhetoric into actual policy.

> Every single Muslim holding public office in America is a Trojan horse.
## A distraction from prices
El-Sayed says the attacks are meant to pull attention from affordability, and Republicans, short on else to run on, have gone all in.

> My name is not raising your gas prices.
## Key takeaway

In 2001, most politicians tried to cool anti-Muslim anger. In 2026, a big part of the GOP is running on it.