NYC mayoral candidate Mamdani received racist backlash for eating with his bare hands. / X/ @Polytikles

Democratic leader Pramila Jayapal on July 1 reacted sharply to Republican leader Brandon Gill's racist comments on Zohran Mamdani, calling them "embarrassing" and "disgusting".

Congressman Gill recently stirred up a storm with his post on X, condemning Mamdani for eating with bare hands.

Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist and New York State Assembly member, won the Democratic primary for NYC mayor recently. Son of Indian origin filmmaker Mira Nair, Mamdani won with a campaign centered around affordability and progressive policies. Ever since his victory, Republican leaders have rallied against him and his policies.

Rep. Gill posted his views while resharing a post originally shared by a Right wing advocacy page named 'End Wokeness'. He commented, while resharing, "Civilized people in America don’t eat like this."

Demanding that Mamdani either comply or leave the country, Gill added, "If you refuse to adopt Western customs, go back to the Third World."

Gill's comments quickly erupted a series of responses from both camps.

Rep. Jayapal shared a screenshot of Gill's post and said, "Yet another GOP member going off on some racist BS. It is embarrassing and disgusting to see a Member of Congress show his stupidity."

Yet another GOP member going off on some racist BS. It is embarrassing and disgusting to see a Member of Congress show his stupidity. pic.twitter.com/Dz11N7MVoy

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) July 1, 2025

Similar sentiments were echoed by Congresswoman Grace Meng. She said, "Can't imagine how this guy is eating ribs, burgers, pizza…you know the classic American favorites..." Meng is the chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

Can't imagine how this guy is eating ribs, burgers, pizza…you know the classic American favorites... https://t.co/0o6XEsKurg

— Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng) June 30, 2025

He said, she said

Danielle D'Souza Gill, wife of Rep. Brandon Gill came to her husband's defence when the Internet pointed out her ancestry. Danielle D'Souza Gill is the daughter of Dinesh Joseph D'Souza, a popular Right wing political commentator who was born in southern India.

"I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork," she said, responding to social media criticism.

"I was born in America. I'm a Christian MAGA patriot. My father's extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

I did not grow up eating rice with my hands and have always used a fork.

I was born in America. I’m a Christian MAGA patriot

My father’s extended family lives in India and they are also Christian and they use forks too.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. https://t.co/pORq7bJPgO

— Danielle D'Souza Gill (@danielledsouzag) June 30, 2025

Among Rep. Gill's detractors was Alt News founder Mohammed Zubair. Zubair, who runs the Indian fact-checking website, posted screenshots showing Dinesh D'Souza eating naan and beans with his bare hands and commented, "Hello Civilised person from America. Here's your father in-law" @DineshDSouza 'eating like this'." 

Hello Civilised person from America. Here's your father in-law @DineshDSouza 'eating like this'. pic.twitter.com/PxyyrbW1MB

— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) June 30, 2025

Dinesh D'Souza responded to the post saying, "I’m eating naan bread, not rice, with my hands. Do you see the fork on my plate?"

Indian origin Republican leaders have found themselves in a tight spot. Vice President of the United States, JD Vance's Indian origin wife, Usha Vance and Trump endorsee Vivek Ramaswamy were at the receiving end of fire from within their bunkers.  

Nicholas J. Fuentes, a far-right political commentator called out Ramaswamy and said, "When conservatives attack Zohran Mamdani for being a foreigner, I just want them to keep the same energy with Vivek Ramaswamy and Usha Vance."

Vivek Ramaswamy is a former 2024 Republican presidential candidate and is currently running for Ohio governor in 2026 with a Trump endorsement.

Ramaswamy defended his position by saying, "It’s a shame to watch the race-obsessed fringe of the right try to outdo the race-obsessed woke left." Even though Ramaswamy called out such voices from within his party, he did not make any direct comment about eating with bare hands.

However, detractors quickly shared images of Ramaswamy giving an interview barefoot and labeled it "disgusting", thereby clubbing Mamdani eating with his hands and Ramaswamy walking barefoot together.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet K Dhiillon took a clear stance and came to Rep. Gill's support and said on X, "Mom sent me home from the weekend with daal and rice … which I’m heating and eating with a spoon — not like some performance artist LARPing philistine!"

Mom sent me home from the weekend with daal and rice … which I’m heating and eating with a spoon — not like some performance artist LARPing philistine! pic.twitter.com/Mc9aC5bFDz

— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@HarmeetKDhillon) July 1, 2025

While supporters of both Mamdani and Gill engage in a feud on X, Mamdani has stayed silent on the issue and Rep. Gill has not issued any clarifying statement nor apologised for his comments. 

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