New York governor hits back at Ted Cruz after trolling her for wearing headscarf at NYPD officer’s funeral
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has lashed out at Republican Sen. Ted Cruz after he mocked her for wearing a headscarf at a Muslim police officer’s funeral.
Hochul, a Democrat, was paying her respects at the funeral of Didarul Islam, 36, a New York City police officer, who was one of four killed in a shooting last Monday in Midtown.
A picture of the governor sat beside New York City Mayor Eric Adams at the service was posted by an anonymous conservative account with the caption “Why in TF is the Governor of New York wearing a ****** hijab?!”
Cruz, who represents Texas, added “Um, wut?” in response on X.
Hochul hit back at the senator in a post explaining: “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.”
Cruz doubled down in a further post on Sunday. “I agree,” he posted. “You should wear a hijab every day because you are so damn decent. Never mind the rights of women in New York…not your concern.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Cruz’s “despicable” remarks, and called on him to apologize.
“If Ted Cruz has any remaining sense of human decency, he will apologize to both the family of slain New York City Police Department Officer Didarul Islam and Governor Kathy Hochul for his despicable and disrespectful conduct,” the statement said.
“Senator Cruz should be ashamed of himself for daring to use a murdered Muslim NYPD officer’s funeral as an opportunity to amplify anti-Muslim hate.”
“The fact that Mr. Cruz has repeatedly shown respect for Jewish beliefs by wearing a yarmulke at Jewish sacred spaces makes his attack on Governor Hochul for similarly respecting a Muslim space all the more hateful and hypocritical,” the statement continued.
“The next time Mr. Cruz visits a Catholic church, he should look up, notice the statues depicting Mary mother of Jesus, may God’s peace be upon them, wearing a scarf, and then ask himself why he hates the sight of the hijab so much.”
Fact-checkers on X shared an image of Cruz wearing a yarmulke when he visited the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn during his 2016 presidential campaign.
Others on X praised Hochul’s actions as respectful to the fallen officer, who has been posthumously promoted to detective.
