New York Governor Kathy Hochul wears Hijab in meeting with Muslim leaders
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul appeared in a video showing her wearing a black hijab while addressing Muslim leaders and congregants at an event in New York City.
The footage, which circulated widely on X starting Sunday, captured Hochul speaking at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and the affiliated Islamic Cultural Center School.
She attended Friday Jumaa prayers, addressed the congregation, then toured the school and classrooms.
NY Governor Kathy Hochul is now wearing a hijab. pic.twitter.com/tzd7VIRxoS
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 30, 2026
In remarks during the appearance, Hochul thanked attendees, including Ambassador Tareq Albanai.
“I want to thank his excellency Mr. (Ambassador Tareq) Albanai. I want to thank him for [inaudible] be part of the family, to our imam, and the other executives who are a part of this organization,” she said.
The Islamic Cultural Center School later posted positively about the visit on Instagram, describing it as “an honor” and a “meaningful recognition” of the school’s role as a community partner.
The post expressed gratitude for Hochul’s “continued commitment to ensuring that every New Yorker feels safe, respected, and supported.”
Conservative commentators and Republican figures condemned the decision as pandering and hypocritical for a self-described feminist.
Right-wing accounts captioned the video: “‘Feminist icon’ NY Governor Hochul just put on a hijab for Muslim men.”
Political commentator Benny Johnson wrote, “Governor Kathy Hochul is wearing a hijab yet again. If suicidal empathy had a poster child, it would be her.”
Some right-wing critics also noted the timing, less than two weeks before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
This was not Hochul’s first time wearing a head covering in a Muslim setting.
In July 2025, she wore a headscarf at the funeral of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam, a Muslim officer killed in a Midtown Manhattan shooting.
After Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) posted “Um, wut?” in response to the photo, Hochul replied: “I wore a headscarf to honor a fallen Muslim NYPD officer at his funeral. Respecting a grieving family’s faith is ‘wut’ leaders and anyone with basic decency would do.”
Hochul has pursued outreach to New York’s large Muslim community, including proclaiming January 2026 as the state’s first Muslim American Heritage Month and hosting Iftar events.
