BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s recent social media post juxtaposing the Sept. 11 attacks with a photo of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, captioned “the enemy is inside the gates,” has ignited fresh accusations of racism as the Alabama Republican campaigns for governor.
Tuberville, who filed paperwork in January to enter the 2026 race to replace term-limited Gov. Kay Ivey, reposted the image on X on March 12. The post targeted Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, amid his hosting of an iftar dinner to break the Ramadan fast. Mamdani condemned the attacks on him, saying many American Muslims face prejudice and asking, “Who here has been told, you do not belong in New York City?”
The post fits a pattern in Tuberville’s rhetoric that critics say stokes anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment, a core element of his messaging as he positions himself for the governor’s race. In December, he called for the mass deportation of “radical Islamists,” claiming Islamic immigrants come with “a sense of entitlement” and take advantage of the system, adding, “If this is your attitude, we don’t want you here.” He has also opposed an Islamic academy in Alabama, saying the only place it should move is “out of Alabama and out of our country.”
Democrats responded forcefully. California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on X: “Tommy Tuberville proves to the world that a football hitting your head can turn you into a racist piece of sh*t. Congrats, Tommy.” New York Sen. Chuck Schumer called the posts “mindless hate,” saying Muslim Americans are “cops, doctors, nurses, teachers… Islamophobic hate like this is fundamentally un-American.” Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders labeled the attack on Mamdani “nothing less than blatant Islamophobic racism.”
In Alabama, where civil rights history looms large, the post has renewed scrutiny of Tuberville’s past comments. In 2022, he equated support for reparations with “the people that do the crime,” drawing charges of racism from NAACP President Derrick Johnson, who called it “flat out racist, ignorant, and completely revolting.” In 2023, Tuberville initially refused to label white nationalists as racist, prompting Senate Majority Leader Schumer to accuse him of defending the ideology.
Tuberville’s gubernatorial bid emphasizes economic recruitment and job growth, with the senator saying, “We have 500,000 people in this state who make less than $30,000 a year. That should be against the law.” Democrats like former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, who is running for governor, have questioned his residency and alignment with President Donald Trump.
Civil rights advocates in Birmingham, site of key 1960s protests, see Tuberville’s approach as divisive. The Council on American-Islamic Relations added him to its list of anti-Muslim extremists last year, a first for a U.S. senator. As the race heats up, his latest post underscores tensions over immigration and identity in a state still grappling with its past.