Full Breakdown
Senator Tuberville Demands NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Be Sent to Guantanamo
7/25/2026, 4:19:57 AM
Core Event
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn, Ala.) publicly called for the arrest of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his transfer to the U.S. military detention facility at Guantánamo Bay. Tuberville made the remarks during an interview with conservative commentator Benny Johnson, saying the mayor should be “handcuffed… and sent to Gitmo” because he “hates this country.”
Background & Context
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic-socialist who defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the 2023 Democratic primary, has drawn national attention for his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling the Israeli leader an “architect of genocide.” Mamdani previously pledged to arrest Netanyahu if the latter entered New York under an International Criminal Court warrant, later acknowledging the city lacks authority to do so and urging federal action. Tuberville’s comments follow a pattern of attacks on Mamdani, including a prior claim that the mayor’s Ramadan iftar event at City Hall was linked to the 9/11 attacks.
Official Statements & Responses
The senator’s statements were delivered on “The Benny Show,” where Johnson also highlighted Mamdani’s remarks on Netanyahu. No official response from Mayor Mamdani or the New York City government was included in the sources.
Criticism & Opposition
California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to Tuberville’s earlier remarks linking Mamdani’s Ramadan event to 9/11 by calling the senator “a racist piece of s—,” as reported by The Hill. Critics have characterized Tuberville’s calls for detention at Guantánamo as extreme and politically motivated.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s amazing me, we allow a guy to come in this country just a few years ago… For some reason, we have enough people in New York that would vote for this guy to run the largest and the most popular city in the world,” — Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, senator
- “She couldn’t get to first base running for dog catcher in the South,” — Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, senator
- “Go put the handcuffs on him and get him the hell out of here, and send him to Gitmo because the guy hates this country,” — Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, senator
