Persistent rumors claim NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani hosted Columbia Hamas-linked activist Mahmoud Khalil at Gracie Mansion for Ramadan, raising alarms over leftist tolerance for anti-American extremism amid President Trump’s deportation crackdown.
Story Snapshot
- Khalil, Columbia protest leader, faces ICE detention and deportation for activities aligned with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terror group.
- Oct. 7 victims’ families sued Khalil and allies, accusing them of running Hamas’ propaganda arm on campus, terrorizing Jewish students.
- Trump administration enforces immigration laws, revoking green cards of non-citizen radicals, signaling victory over campus antisemitism.
Khalil’s Role in Columbia Protests
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian-Syrian former Columbia graduate student, led pro-Palestinian protests after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and took 250 hostages. He acted as lead negotiator and spokesperson for Columbia University Apartheid Divest and the Gaza Solidarity Encampment from April 19-29, 2024. Protesters occupied Hamilton Hall, detained workers, and prompted NYPD raids with arrests. Columbia rejected divestment demands, and talks collapsed. Such actions disrupted campus life and fueled antisemitism concerns.
ICE Arrest and Deportation Push
On March 8, 2025, ICE arrested Khalil for activities aligned to Hamas, including Quds News interviews and pro-Hamas fliers. The Trump administration revoked his green card, initiating deportation under anti-antisemitism executive orders. Detention continues as of March 2025 sources, halting his activism. This reflects President Trump’s commitment to the largest deportation operation in history, prioritizing American security over non-citizen radicals who support terror groups.
DHS statements confirm Khalil led Hamas-aligned efforts. His lawyers claim First Amendment violations, but federal authorities hold immigration power. Columbia faced $400 million in federal funding cuts for poor protest handling, forcing compliance with Trump policies.
Lawsuit by Oct. 7 Victims’ Families
On March 25, 2025, families of Oct. 7 victims and hostages, including Iris Weinstein Haggai and Shlomi Ziv, filed a lawsuit in SDNY against Khalil, Nerdeen Kiswani, Maryam Alwan, and Cameron Jones. Plaintiffs accuse them of operating Hamas’ propaganda arm, terrorizing Jewish students, and causing property damage. The National Jewish Advocacy Center represents them, seeking damages for mental anguish. Captors reportedly showed Ziv photos of Columbia protests.
Sources like NJAC describe protesters as Hamas instruments harming U.S. values. FDD highlights Khalil’s encampment role as evidence of ties. This legal action pressures anti-Israel groups and tests antiterrorism laws against campus radicals.
Disgusting! Mamdani Hosts Columbia Hamas Superfan Mahmoud Khalil for Ramadan Meal at Gracie Mansion https://t.co/V9zXtRec18
— Gregs iPinions (@Gregs_iPinions) March 10, 2026
Unconfirmed Rumor and Broader Impacts
Social media posts allege Zohran Mamdani, NYC mayoral candidate, hosted Khalil for a Ramadan meal at Gracie Mansion, framing it as endorsement of a Hamas superfan. Amid Trump’s victories on immigration and campus crackdowns, such rumors underscore leftist frustration with accountability for extremism.
Khalil’s case sets precedents for deporting non-citizen activists and chilling pro-Hamas speech. It affects Jewish students facing assaults, hostages’ families enduring trauma, and universities losing funds. Trump’s policies reinforce U.S.-Israel ties, countering globalist tolerance for terror sympathizers that frustrated conservatives under prior regimes.
Sources:
Columbia student groups SJP, CUAD and Mahmoud Khalil sued by families of Oct. 7 hostages
The Columbia student at the center of the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight
Explaining the legal battle over 1st Amendment, national security in Mahmoud Khalil case
