Hochul Criticized by Blakeman, Trump Over Hijab Worn During Islamic Center Visit

In early September 2026, a dispute emerged in the New York governor's race after Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman criticized Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul for wearing a hijab during a visit to an Islamic community center. The incident occurred amid ongoing campaign tensions ahead of the gubernatorial election, according to two New York-based news outlets, NY State of Politics and Spectrum News. Hochul responded publicly, stating that wearing the hijab was a sign of respect as a guest at a Muslim house of worship, and accused Blakeman of stoking division among New Yorkers. President Donald Trump also weighed in with criticism of Hochul, with reporting indicating his comments were tied to the separate issue of congestion pricing. Both outlets characterized the exchange as part of a broader tense week in the campaign between Hochul and Republican challengers. The current status of the political dispute remains that of an ongoing campaign controversy, with no indication of further official action or resolution reported. Details of Trump's exact remarks and how directly they connected to the hijab incident versus the congestion pricing issue are not fully clarified across the two reports. No additional statements from Blakeman beyond his initial criticism, nor any response from the Islamic community center itself, were included in the available reporting.