‘Racist piece of sh*t’: Gavin Newsom hurls insult at GOP senator over Mamdani post

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom lashed out Thursday at Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville in a profanity-laden social media post.

Tuberville reposted an image circulating online that paired a photo of the Sept. 11 attacks with a picture of Democratic New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Newsom fired back in a post on X, launching a personal attack against Tuberville and accusing him of racism.

The enemy is inside the gates. https://t.co/YSNHIpDnds

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) March 12, 2026

Tommy Tuberville proves to the world that a football hitting your head can turn you into a racist piece of shit. Congrats, Tommy. https://t.co/KLdG04vpwx

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) March 12, 2026

Mamdani pushed back against the criticism, saying he wished politicians in Washington showed the same level of outrage over children going hungry as they do over him sharing a meal with New Yorkers.

Let there be as much outrage from politicians in Washington when kids go hungry as there is when I break bread with New Yorkers. https://t.co/IibwxE1SDr

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) March 12, 2026

The controversy erupted after Mamdani hosted his first iftar — the evening meal that Muslims eat to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadan — at New York City Hall. Prior to the event, the mayor welcomed activist Mahmoud Khalil and his family to Gracie Mansion to break the Ramadan fast.

Mamdani said he and his wife hosted Khalil, his wife Noor, and their son Dean for the meal. The visit drew criticism given Khalil’s past remarks about the Oct. 7 attack carried out by Hamas. Khalil previously described the attack as an unavoidable moment in the Palestinian struggle.

Khalil also said the assault was a desperate attempt to show the world that Palestinians remain part of the political equation. Khalil later declined to condemn Hamas during an interview, arguing that demands for condemnation were disingenuous.

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