A viral post circulated on X, falsely appearing to originate from the official account of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: As the one-year mark approaches since the tragic passing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, social media has been swirling with a screenshot purportedly showing a tribute from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The fake post even claimed that Mamdani had previously interviewed Kirk, leading to widespread confusion and a necessary investigation into its authenticity.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani interviewed Charlie Kirk
I interviewed with Charlie Kirk just last month, and I saw a passionate young man who loved his country. Devastated to now learn of his assassination.
Political violence has no place in our nation. We must turn down the temperature and stand united against hate.
I pray for…
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) September 10, 2025
The rumor gained traction via an X (formerly Twitter) post dated September 11, 2025, mimicking Mamdani’s profile picture and verified blue checkmark.
The fabricated message stated: “I interviewed with Charlie Kirk just last month, and I saw a passionate young man who loved his country. Devastated to now learn of his assassination. Political violence has no place in our nation. We must turn down the temperature and stand united against hate. I pray for Charlie’s family and loved ones.”
This statement left internet users baffled, with many questioning when and where such an interview could have taken place.
Fact Check: The message did not come from Zohran Mamdani’s official account
Ultimately, the claim holds no truth. Mamdani never published such a tribute to the late conservative figure.
While the tweet itself was a real post, it was actually published by the official NYC Mayor handle—an institutional account utilized across different administrations—rather than by Mamdani personally. At the time of the September 2025 post, the city’s chief executive was Eric Adams, who had issued the statement honoring the former TPUSA leader shortly after his passing.
For his part, Mamdani did address the tragedy directly on X at the time, writing: “I’m horrified by the shooting of Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah. Political violence has no place in our country.”
TPUSA experiences remarkable student expansion following Charlie Kirk’s passing
In the year following Kirk’s assassination, Turning Point USA has witnessed a dramatic expansion across its student network. High school chapters under the Club America banner reached 3,500—a 180% increase from the prior academic year—while college chapters grew by 64% to 1,500, collectively reaching over a million students.
This massive wave of engagement directly traces back to the intense national attention sparked by Kirk’s tragic death at Utah Valley University.
According to organizational figures, the 2026 Chapter Leadership Summit drew over 2,500 participants—double the attendance seen in 2024—with more than two-thirds of those present noting they joined the movement only after Kirk’s passing.