Disinformation campaigns are becoming increasingly sophisticated, as demonstrated by the recent false narrative of Muslim flags being raised in celebration of a political victory.
Story Overview
- The narrative of Muslim flags being raised is fabricated.
- Disinformation linked to Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral primary victory.
- Videos misattributed from a 2023 protest.
- Conservative groups amplified the false narrative.
The Origins of a False Narrative
The claim that Muslim flags were raised across the United States to celebrate a political victory is a blatant example of disinformation. The narrative gained traction after Zohran Mamdani’s win in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary in New York City. However, the video evidence purportedly supporting this claim was misrepresented. The video in question actually depicted a flag removal incident during a pro-Palestinian protest on November 10, 2023, unrelated to Mamdani’s victory.
The false narrative was propagated by figures within conservative media and political organizations. They claimed that Muslim supporters of Mamdani, a Muslim candidate, were celebrating his victory by removing American flags. This was quickly debunked by various fact-checking entities, but not before it had spread widely on social media platforms.
#WakeUpAmerica
Bradlee Dean: #Muslim #Flags Going Up Quietly Around The Country – They Are Claiming Victory! (Videos) https://t.co/TrQwJ2qWCO— Jeff Hertzog (@JeffHertzog1961) January 17, 2026
The Real Event Behind the Video
The incident that sparked the disinformation campaign occurred during a pro-Palestinian protest in New York City. On November 10, 2023, a 17-year-old climbed a light pole and removed American and United Nations flags. This protest was in response to conflicts between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. News outlets and the Turkish news agency Anadolu documented this event, which had no connection to the 2025 political landscape or Mamdani’s campaign.
During his campaign, Zohran Mamdani, a self-declared socialist, focused on engaging Muslim voters by visiting mosques and community centers. His victory in the Democratic primary was against former Governor Andrew Cuomo. If elected in November 2025, Mamdani would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor.
Disinformation Timeline and Amplification
The spread of disinformation followed a calculated timeline. On June 24, 2025, Mamdani won the Democratic primary. Just two days later, CPAC posted a misleading message, falsely linking the flag removal video to Mamdani’s victory. This narrative was further amplified by conservative figures and across social media in multiple languages. By July 1, 2025, the NYPD had confirmed the original flag removal incident from 2023, and AFP published a fact-check debunking the false claims the following day.
The disinformation campaign demonstrates how quickly false narratives can spread, exploiting historical events for political purposes. Conservative organizations like CPAC and the Heritage Foundation played significant roles in amplifying these false narratives, aiming to discredit Mamdani’s victory.
Unraveling the Truth
The disinformation was debunked through diligent fact-checking. Reverse image searches traced the video to its original post date in November 2023. The NYPD’s confirmation and photographic evidence from the Anadolu news agency provided irrefutable proof of the timeline. Multiple news outlets had documented the 2023 flag removal incident, helping to establish the facts.
AFP, renowned for its fact-checking operations, played a crucial role in exposing the disinformation. This swift debunking highlights the importance of credible fact-checking organizations in maintaining the integrity of public discourse. Despite the rapid spread of false narratives, timely interventions by such organizations can help restore truth.
