Gov. Kathy Hochul condemned Republican rival Bruce Blakeman as “reprehensible” after he attacked her for wearing a head scarf during a visit to a mosque.
The New York governor drew criticism from conservatives after photos resurfaced showing her with a head covering at a mosque event last year. Blakeman escalated the backlash in a social media post, referring to her as “hijab Hochul.”
Blakeman, the elected Nassau County executive, called the traditional religious headwear a “costume” and accused the Democrat of “political pandering” less than “two weeks before the 25th anniversary of 9/11.”
“To try and divide New Yorkers based on their religion — I think it’s reprehensible — he has taken this to a new level and I think that voters will reject that,” Hochul told reporters Wednesday after an unrelated event in Blakeman’s home territory on Long Island.
Women commonly wear head coverings, including scarves, when visiting or attending services at mosques. Former first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, along with first daughter Ivanka Trump, have also covered their heads during meetings with Islamic leaders.
“It’s a sign of respect to the religion of the people, and if he has a problem with that, it says a lot more about him than it does anybody else,” Hochul said further clapping back at Blakeman.
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“I reject anyone who tries to use this as another way to separate us as New Yorkers during a time when we should be coming together and supporting each other.”
Blakeman himself wore a head covering at a Sikh event in Nassau County last year, according to photos posted to his own social media account at the time.
Blakeman doubled down on his criticism in a statement to The Post referencing his nephew who died in the Sept. 11 attacks.
“Kathy Hochul don’t lecture me about 9/11 and unity. My nephew Tommy was murdered that day giving first aid to a severely burned woman. He was a state employee and a hero,” he railed.
“You have aligned yourself with Zohran Mamdani who won’t speak against “Global Intifada” which was the goal of his murderers who killed him and thousands of New Yorkers,” he said. This November New Yorkers will unify around me to save this state.
President Trump meanwhile weighed in on the pics in a Tuesday Truth Social post.
“Congestion Pricing in Manhattan is hurting her with everybody, but especially the people for whom she wears the hijab. The whole thing is CRAZY!” Trump said.