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When and where were claims of ISIS endorsing Mandami first reported?
Executive Summary
Claims that ISIS endorsed Zohran Mamdani were first circulated online in April 2025 in the form of a purported ISIS propaganda document and in social posts amplifying that image, but the earliest verifiable public reports tying ISIS to an “endorsement” of Mamdani appear to be misinterpretations and satirical references rather than factual confirmations. Examination of available reporting and archival analyses shows the image dated April 11, 2025 was shared on social media and flagged as misleading, mainstream coverage of the New York mayoral race and jihadi-monitoring reports do not corroborate any authentic ISIS endorsement, and some early mentions originated in parody or low-credibility posts rather than credible intelligence or journalism [1] [2] [3].
1. How the claim first surfaced — social post and a dated propaganda image that misled readers
The first traceable origin point in the available materials is a social media post sharing an image of an alleged ISIS statement dated April 11, 2025; the post explicitly claimed an ISIS “endorsement” of Mamdani but the image itself discussed hypothetical jihad operations in New York and did not mention Mamdani. Independent credibility analysis rated that post at 12% due to framing violations and logical leaps, concluding the endorsement claim was false and likely aimed at stoking anti-Mamdani sentiment. That social-media-origin pattern is characteristic of how extremist-style images are weaponized politically: an ambiguous or out-of-context jihadi text is coupled with an unfounded attribution to a contemporary political figure, then amplified by partisan accounts [1].
2. Mainstream coverage does not corroborate an ISIS endorsement — election reporting is silent on authentic links
Major reporting on the New York City mayoral contest and on reactions to Mamdani’s election contains no evidence of an ISIS endorsement. Coverage of the race focused on candidate profiles, polls, and public statements by political actors and critics, with no credible outlet reporting an ISIS endorsement of Mamdani; sources provided about the race explicitly contain no mention of ISIS endorsing him. That absence in conventional journalistic sources matters: claims of international terrorist endorsements typically trigger immediate attention and verification by national-security reporters, which did not occur in these records [3].
3. Monitoring organizations and jihadi analyses emphasize reactionary propaganda but not a direct endorsement
Jihadism-tracking pieces and briefs noted reactions from Salafi-jihadi clerics and Iran-backed outlets to Mamdani’s election, cataloguing hostile commentary and ideological praise from various hostile actors; however, these documents do not present an authenticated ISIS endorsement either. One feed referenced a 2022 archival audio and other jihadi messaging but the accessible excerpts and subscriber-locked material do not provide a timestamped ISIS proclamation endorsing Mamdani. Analytical write-ups therefore point to hostile reaction and opportunistic propaganda rather than a verified organizational endorsement from ISIS leadership [4] [5].
4. Satire, parody and low-credibility posts accelerated confusion — a key amplifier
Some early public mentions of “ISIS-trained” or “endorsed” Mamdani originated in satirical sketches and parody rather than news reporting, including a Saturday Night Live spoof that mocked the rhetoric of Mamdani’s critics by using hyperbolic labels. That parody was then conflated in some social streams with literal claims, and low-credibility posts amplified a dated jihadi image to bolster those false assertions. The dynamic illustrates how satire and misinformation become fused in fast-moving political debates, producing plausible-looking but unsupported narratives that flourish absent quick debunking [2] [1].
5. Bottom line: first reports were social and satirical, not verified intelligence — what to watch next
In sum, the earliest verifiable public appearances of the claim are social-media shares of an April 11, 2025-stamped image and satirical references; no credible journalistic or intelligence reporting authenticated an ISIS endorsement of Mamdani in these sources. The claim’s origins lie in a low-credibility post and parody, with opportunistic reuse by actors seeking to influence perception. To resolve remaining uncertainties, investigators should seek the original image’s provenance, metadata, and any signal intelligence or verified translations; absent such primary confirmation, the assertion that ISIS endorsed Mamdani remains unsubstantiated [1] [4].