‘Mumdumi Or Whatever’: Musk’s Mocking Jibe At Indian-Origin Mamdani Sparks Racism Row Online

Last Updated:November 04, 2025, 13:15 IST

Elon Musk sparked backlash after mocking Zohran Mamdani’s name while endorsing Andrew Cuomo for New York mayor, igniting debate on racism and cultural sensitivity in US politics.

Democratic nominee for New York Mayoral polls Zohran Mamdani. (Image Credit: Reuters)

Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk has stirred controversy yet again — this time over a remark targeting Indian-origin New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

During an online discussion about the upcoming 2025 New York City mayoral election, Musk, while endorsing former governor Andrew Cuomo, appeared to mock Mamdani, referring to him dismissively as “Mumdumi or whatever."

The Tesla and X (formerly Twitter) CEO’s offhand comment has drawn widespread backlash, with social media users and community leaders calling it racially insensitive and mocking of ethnic names.

‘Racist and disrespectful’

Clips of Musk’s comment have gone viral, prompting strong reactions on X. Many users accused Musk of belittling Mamdani’s identity as an Indian and Ugandan-origin Muslim.

“Mocking someone’s name based on how it sounds is racist, plain and simple," one user wrote. Another added, “It’s sad that someone who runs one of the biggest tech platforms in the world continues to punch down."

The outrage comes amid heightened political discourse in the US, with identity, race, and religion increasingly influencing election narratives.

Who is Zohran Mamdani?

Zohran Mamdani, 33, is an Indian-Ugandan-American politician representing Queens in the New York State Assembly. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Mamdani has built a reputation as a progressive lawmaker advocating for affordable housing, immigrant rights, and racial justice.

He is also known for his creative background — a former rapper and son of acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and political scientist Mahmood Mamdani. His candidacy for New York City mayor has attracted attention as a symbol of growing diversity in American politics.

Centre of political storm

While Musk did not elaborate on the comment, the timing — coinciding with his endorsement of Cuomo — led many to see it as an attempt to undermine Mamdani’s credibility in the race.

The Tesla chief, who has previously courted controversy with political remarks on his platform X, faced criticism even from his own followers. Some users urged him to apologise, while others defended his statement as “humour taken out of context."

Mamdani, who has not directly responded to Musk’s comment, continues to campaign actively across boroughs, positioning himself as a candidate for “a fairer, more inclusive New York."

Debate over accountability

The episode has reignited debate over cultural sensitivity and accountability for influential figures. Many commentators argued that Musk’s mockery reflects a casual bias often directed at ethnic names and identities.

“Such remarks by someone with a global audience normalize disrespect toward immigrant communities," wrote one US-based academic in a column that gained traction.

As the mayoral race intensifies, the controversy underscores the growing tension between celebrity influence and political decorum, especially when identity becomes part of the conversation.

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