Some far-right extremist and Donald Trump ally Laura Loomer has reignited political fights in America, calling for Muslims to be barred from public office.
Loomer made the comments after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said the Israeli leader would not be welcome in New York City.
“Ban Muslims from holding office in America,” Loomer wrote in a post on X.
She also called for US President Donald Trump to restore what she described as a broader “Muslim ban”, arguing that the United States would not be “safe” until restrictions on Muslims were reinstated.
"We are never going to Make America Safe Again until President Trump goes back to implementing his Muslim ban,” Loomer wrote. She sought to expand the policy in the way she believed it should have been, she said.
As the Israel-Gaza conflict is at boiling point, the comments have reignited the debate on religious discrimination, representation and the polarisation that it has brought to the fore.
Loomer also launched a series of allegations against Mamdani, accusing him of being in cahoots with Iran and Hamas and saying that he was a national security threat.
She alleged that FBI officials had concerns about the New York mayor and claimed, citing what she said was a senior FBI source, that Mamdani would never receive security clearance because of alleged links to terrorist organisations.
Neither the FBI nor the Trump administration has publicly confirmed those allegations. No publicly available evidence has been presented to substantiate the claims.
Mamdani Criticises Netanyahu
The controversy followed comments made by Mamdani in a video issued on Tuesday.
The New York mayor criticized Netanyahu and called him “a war criminal” as the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant was issued against the Israeli prime minister.
Mamdani said Netanyahu was not welcome in New York City and argued that the United States should respect the ICC’s judicial process.
“There is a reason that the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest,” Mamdani said, arguing that Netanyahu should be arrested and tried under the international court’s process.
He also criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, saying Netanyahu’s government was responsible for civilian suffering and raising concerns over attacks on hospitals and restrictions on humanitarian aid.
US Political Divide Deepens
The exchange also highlights the deep rift between the United States and Israel, Gaza and the international criminal court at play.
Criticism of Israel’s military operations has frequently triggered strong reactions from pro-Israel conservatives and supporters of the MAGA movement. Loomer, one of Trump’s most vocal allies, has long advocated hardline positions on immigration, Islam and national security.
Her recent statements have now extended the political confrontation beyond the Israel-Gaza conflict and into a wider question of whether religious identity should affect eligibility for public office in the United States.
The US Constitution prohibits religious tests for public office, and calls to bar Muslims from holding office directly challenge a core principle of American constitutional governance.
Mamdani’s criticism of Netanyahu and Loomer’s response are likely to further fuel political tensions as the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to dominate debates over US foreign policy, immigration, national security and political identity.
The controversy also shows how sharply and quickly the Middle East conflict has entered domestic American politics, and how the issue is being used by public officials, activists and political groups to frame the larger battle over democracy, religion and national security.
