The Statue of Liberty clad in a burqa—a powerful symbolic image circulating on social media that leaves many questioning multiculturalism and the policies of New York’s potential first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani.
At a Glance
- A manipulated image showing the Statue of Liberty wearing a burqa has gone viral on social media.
- The image is being used by MAGA supporters as a critique of the progressive policies of NYC Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani.
- The meme is intended as a warning that Mamdani’s agenda poses a threat to traditional American values.
- The controversy has been condemned as Islamophobic by critics, who point out the historical irony that the Statue of Liberty was originally inspired by a veiled Egyptian woman.
A Symbol Reimagined in the Culture War
A digitally altered image of the Statue of Liberty wearing a black burqa is spreading like wildfire across social media, becoming the latest symbol in the heated culture war surrounding New York City’s mayoral race. The provocative image is being shared primarily by MAGA supporters and conservative commentators as a pointed critique of the race’s Democratic nominee, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani.
The message is blunt: a warning that Mamdani’s progressive policies on multiculturalism and immigration will lead to the erosion of traditional American identity and values.
A MAGA Response to a “Woke” Agenda
The viral meme is being promoted by prominent conservative figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. It taps into a deep-seated fear among some voters that the radical progressive agenda championed by Mamdani represents a direct threat to the principles of liberty and freedom that the statue symbolizes.
He asked me what I meant when I posted the Statue of Liberty covered in a burka.
Here is what I said. pic.twitter.com/6tVkOohoU3
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) June 28, 2025
The controversy has been met with predictable accusations of Islamophobia from the left. Mamdani’s supporters have condemned the image as a racist and bigoted attack on the city’s first potential Muslim mayor. The clash highlights the deep and often irreconcilable cultural divides that are coming to define American politics.
An Ironic Twist of History
In a fascinating historical twist, the very symbol being used to stoke fears of foreign influence has its own roots in the Middle East. As detailed by news outlet Firstpost, the original design for the Statue of Liberty by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was based on his earlier sketches of a veiled Egyptian peasant woman, intended for a lighthouse at the Suez Canal.
This historical fact, highlighted by Mamdani’s supporters, adds a layer of deep irony to the debate. It showcases how a symbol of welcome for immigrants is now being used in a culture war that often ignores the complexities of history in favor of a simpler, more divisive narrative.
