New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) drew the ire of conservatives for wearing a hijab at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York recently.
Right-wing personalities from media and politics accused the governor of subjugating herself and “bowing to the third world.”
Hochul faced similar criticism last year when Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) mocked her for wearing a headscarf to the funeral of a Muslim police officer. She replied that she was showing respect for a “grieving family’s faith” as “leaders and anyone with basic decency would do.”
The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to JS’s request for comment about the renewed attack on the governor for politely adhering to custom in a place related to religious worship.
But some in the MAGAsphere saw it differently.
Fox News’ Riley Gaines cast Hochul’s choice as a rebuke of feminism.
Newsmax host Rob Schmitt took a similar tack. “Yes hide your hair,” he wrote. “Subjugate yourself to Islam and men.”
Right-wing influencer Matt Van Swol wrote “New York forgot” with a photo of the Twin Towers under attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
The contempt spread to Congress as well. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) somehow tried to frame it as hypocrisy.
Even Spencer Pratt, the former reality star who lost the Los Angeles mayoral election despite support from President Donald Trump, chimed in facetiously: “Feminist icon, Kathy Hochul. Slay, kween!”