Yes, Kathy Hochul covered her head while speaking at NYC mosque

Claim:

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul wore a hijab at a New York City mosque in August 2026.

Rating:

What’s True

Footage of Hochul inside the mosque genuinely shows her with a headscarf on, and a portion of her hair is visible.

What’s False

She was not wearing a traditional hijab, which involves a comprehensive lifestyle of modesty that requires concealing both the head and all of the hair.

In late August 2026, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul faced public backlash after reports emerged that she had worn a head covering during a visit to a mosque.

Various videos (archived) shared across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X (archived) purported to capture Hochul addressing a mosque congregation while wearing a black headscarf or hijab. Conservative commentators argued the choice was inappropriate given the proximity to the anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Consequently, readers reached out to verify if the governor was indeed wearing a hijab—a traditional head covering typically used by Muslim women to shield the head, hair, and neck.

The video footage itself is authentic. On August 28, 2026, Hochul toured the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and donned a head covering out of respect while speaking inside the prayer hall. While Hochul has previously worn head coverings at Muslim community events and has publicly supported women who choose to wear the hijab, she was not wearing a traditional hijab on this occasion. Because of this nuance, the claim is rated as a mixture of accurate and inaccurate elements.

Online discussions and media reports frequently mischaracterize the hijab as a simple headscarf. In Islamic tradition, the concept of “hijab” encompasses a broader commitment to modesty for both men and women, rather than just a physical garment. However, in contemporary practice, a hijab specifically refers to a veil that usually conceals the head, neck, and all hair while keeping the face exposed.

Photographs and videos of Hochul show that her hair remained partially visible while she wore the headscarf, meaning she was not observing the traditional practice of wearing a hijab as practiced by Muslim women.

Hochul’s visit to the New York City facility coincided with Friday prayer services. Video recordings place her near the front wall of the prayer hall, identifiable by the distinctive decorative glass niche in the background (as seen in architectural tours of the center at 0:23 and 3:29).

An official statement from the Instagram account of the Islamic Cultural Center School confirmed her attendance at the Friday Jumaa prayers:

Governor Hochul joined our community at ICCNY for Friday Jumaa, where she addressed the congregation, before visiting the Islamic Cultural Center School of New York. She toured the school, stepped into our classrooms and learned more about the community we are so proud to serve.

Although Hochul wore the same attire in these social media clips as she did in the school photographs, her head was uncovered while she toured the educational facilities. She only put on the headscarf when she entered the prayer hall to speak.

It is customary for all women to cover their heads inside a mosque’s prayer area during services, regardless of whether they wear a hijab daily. Consequently, Hochul’s head covering served as a customary gesture of respect.

This is not the first instance of Hochul wearing a head covering at Islamic events. In July 2025, she covered her head during the funeral service for a fallen Muslim police officer, and she did the same at the Jamaica Muslim Center in 2020.

Furthermore, in February 2024, Hochul shared a message (archived) on X to commemorate World Hijab Day. She wrote, “We stand in solidarity with our Muslim sisters who choose to wear the hijab. New York’s diversity has always been its strength, and together, we will always promote respect, inclusion, and religious freedom in the face of hate.” That post featured an image of the governor wearing a headscarf while greeting a Muslim woman who wore a hijab, alongside another woman wearing a similar head covering.

As of this publication, Hochul has not issued a public statement responding to the criticism.

Fact-checkers have previously documented similar instances where political figures wore head coverings out of respect when interacting with Muslim communities, such as former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Sources