Elon Musk Faces Racism Accusations After Deliberately Misspelling Candidate’s Name

Elon Musk is facing significant backlash for a social media post. The Tesla billionaire deliberately misspelled New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s name. The incident occurred on November 4, 2025, on Musk’s X platform. He was endorsing Mamdani’s rival, Andrew Cuomo.

Musk’s post has been widely condemned as disrespectful and racially charged. It has ignited a fierce debate about cultural sensitivity in political discourse.

Musk’s Endorsement Sparks Immediate Controversy

Musk urged his followers to vote for former Governor Andrew Cuomo. He framed the election as a choice between Cuomo and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa. In his post, Musk dismissed Mamdani’s candidacy with a purposeful misspelling.

“Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is,” Musk wrote. He concluded the post with “Vote Cuomo!” According to Reuters, this is not the first time Mamdani’s name has been mispronounced during the campaign. However, the intentional nature of Musk’s error drew particular ire.

Public and Professional Backlash Intensifies

The response on social media was swift and critical. Many users accused Musk of racist behavior. They noted the ease of pronouncing “Mamdani” correctly.

Journalist Mehdi Hasan referenced Musk’s background, asking a pointed question about apartheid. Business CEO Dipti Desai called the tactic a “third rate, middle-schooler” move. The public outcry highlights a growing intolerance for such dismissals of non-Anglicized names.

The incident has inadvertently drawn more attention to Zohran Mamdani’s campaign. His platform focuses on progressive issues like housing and public transit. For his supporters, Musk’s attack signals that the political establishment is taking the challenger seriously.

The controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s post underscores a deeper cultural moment. Voters are increasingly scrutinizing the conduct of powerful figures. This racism accusation will likely remain a significant issue in the final days of the NYC mayoral race.

Thought you’d like to know-

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Mamdani is a democratic socialist running for New York City Mayor. He is the son of academic Mahmood Mamdani and filmmaker Mira Nair. If elected, he would become the city’s first Muslim mayor.

What did Elon Musk actually say?

Elon Musk told his followers a vote for the Republican was a vote for “Mumdumi or whatever his name is.” He then explicitly endorsed Andrew Cuomo in the same post. The comment was widely perceived as a deliberate attempt to belittle Mamdani.

How have people reacted to the post?

The reaction has been overwhelmingly negative, with accusations of racism dominating the response. Many social media users and public figures have condemned Musk’s language. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about cultural respect.

Has Mamdani responded to the incident?

While a direct quote is not in this report, his campaign has long highlighted such dismissals. Supporters see Musk’s attack as a sign that his campaign is gaining powerful momentum and threatening the political status quo.

Why is the correct pronunciation of names important?

Correctly using a person’s name is a fundamental sign of respect. Purposefully mispronouncing a name, especially one from a different culture, is often seen as a microaggression. It can perpetuate exclusion and undermine a person’s identity.