--- title: "Governor Hochul Wears Hijab, Sparks Conservative Criticism" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/governor-hochul-wears-hijab-sparks-conservative-criticism" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/governor-hochul-wears-hijab-sparks-conservative-criticism" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/governor-hochul-wears-hijab-sparks-conservative-criticism.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/governor-hochul-wears-hijab-sparks-conservative-criticism" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-31T22:25:12.878Z" source_reported: "2026-08-31T21:24:48.000Z" updated: "2026-08-31T22:25:12.878Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 55 hype_score: 68 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-31T22:15:40.926106+00:00" --- # Governor Hochul Wears Hijab, Sparks Conservative Criticism *New York governor's gesture of respect at Islamic center draws backlash from Republican figures and commentators.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies, but relies on anonymous sourcing and lacks specific dates/locations. - Craft 55 of 100, higher is better. Quotes affected parties and names what is unknown, but lacks clear separation of fact/comment. - Hype 68 of 100, lower is better. Headline promises more than the body delivers, with loaded adjectives and manufactured urgency. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - New York Governor Kathy Hochul wore a hijab during a visit to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York. - Hochul stated the gesture was intended to show respect for the Muslim community and its religious customs. - Conservative commentators and Republican figures criticized Hochul's appearance, with some accusing her of hypocrisy. - The event took place two weeks before the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. New York Governor Kathy Hochul wore a hijab during a visit to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York. She stated that the gesture was meant to show respect for the Muslim community and its religious customs. The event occurred approximately two weeks before the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. ## Criticism and Counter-Criticism Hochul's appearance drew criticism from conservative commentators and Republican figures. Some critics accused the governor of hypocrisy, contrasting her gesture with the Democratic Party's emphasis on women's rights. The Economic Times reported that conservative commentators and Republican figures quickly turned the appearance into a political controversy. HuffPost noted that right-wing personalities accused the governor of subjugating herself and 'bowing to the third world.' The National Pulse reported criticism for hypocrisy given Democrats' frequent comparisons of conservative values to 'The Handmaid's Tale.' Independent Sentinel reported critics questioned how the gesture squares with the party’s longstanding emphasis on women’s rights. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports mention the specific claims made by some critics that the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, or its imam, had previously blamed Jews for 9/11, a detail noted in Independent Sentinel. ## Who covered it Shares of the 20 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 15% (3) - Centre: 20% (4) - Right: 65% (13) 1 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-31T22:15:40.926106+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-31T23:00:31.976Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports focused on the criticism Hochul received, framing it as a 'ridiculous' or 'ugly MAGA pile-on.' HuffPost's headline stated, 'MAGA Ridiculously Pounces On NY Governor For What She Wore.' OK! Magazine reported that Spencer Pratt and MAGA allies slammed Hochul for wearing a hijab, quoting 'Bowing to the Third World.' Mediaite also highlighted Spencer Pratt and MAGA figures bashing Hochul, using the same quote. HuffPost noted that Hochul had faced similar criticism the previous year and had responded by stating she was showing respect for a 'grieving family’s faith.' ### Centre - Centre-rated reports highlighted the conservative backlash against Governor Hochul for wearing a headscarf at an Islamic center. Internewscast's headline read, 'Hochul Faces Conservative Backlash Over Islamic Center Head Scarf.' Reality Tea and Mandatory reported that reality TV personality Spencer Pratt targeted Hochul over her hijab, noting his remarks came as she faced criticism from Pratt and other pro-Trump voices online. The Economic Times reported that Hochul said the gesture was meant to show respect for the Muslim community and its religious customs, but that conservative commentators and Republican figures quickly turned the appearance into a political controversy. ### Right - Right-rated reports predominantly focused on the criticism directed at Governor Hochul, often framing her action as pandering or hypocritical. Headlines included 'Bending knee to Islam': Gov. Hochul’s hijab sparks outrage in NY, two weeks before 9/11 anniversary (The Economic Times, Times of India) and 'NY Gov wears hijab to pander to Muslim men ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11' (Louder With Crowder). Mycharisma.com reported that viral images fueled a debate over Democrats, feminism, and Islam, pointing to a contradiction between Democratic messaging and approaches to Islamic customs. Legal Insurrection stated, 'This is nothing more than pandering, and it's an utter disgrace.' Twitchy's headline read, 'Fight the Patriarchy, Unless It’s Muslims: Kathy HOCHUL Slaps on a Hijab Weeks Before 9/11.' Independent Sentinel noted that the governor visited an Islamic center where an imam had blamed Jews for 9/11. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - veryLow: 1 - low: 5 - mixed: 6 - high: 4 - unknown: 4 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/us/hochul-faces-conservative-backlash-over-islamic-center-head-scarf) — Hochul Faces Conservative Backlash Over Islamic Center Head Scarf - [New York Post](https://nypost.com/2026/08/31/us-news/conservatives-slam-hochul-for-wearing-head-scarf-at-islamic-center) — Conservatives slam Hochul for wearing head scarf at Islamic center - [Reality Tea](https://realitytea.com/2026/08/31/spencer-pratt-kathy-hochul-hijab-backlash-islamic-center) — Spencer Pratt Targets NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Over Hijab in Ugly MAGA Pile-On - [Mandatory](https://mandatory.com/fun/1840675-spencer-pratt-kathy-hochul-hijab-backlash-islamic-center) — Spencer Pratt Targets NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Over Hijab in Ugly MAGA Pile-On - [mycharisma.com](https://mycharisma.com/news/viral-kathy-hochul-hijab-images-fuel-stunning-debate-over-democrats-feminism-and-islam) — Viral Kathy Hochul Hijab Images Fuel Stunning Debate Over Democrats, Feminism and Islam - Charisma Magazine Online - [OK! Magazine](https://okmagazine.com/p/spencer-pratt-maga-allies-slam-ny-gov-kathy-hochul-wearing-hijab-islamic-center) — Spencer Pratt and MAGA Allies Slam NY Gov Kathy Hochul for Wearing Hijab at Islamic Center: 'Bowing to the Third World' - [The National Pulse](https://thenationalpulse.com/2026/08/31/new-yorks-dem-governor-dons-hijab-ahead-of-9-11-anniversary) — New York’s Dem Governor Dons Hijab Ahead of 9/11 Anniversary. - [American Faith](https://americanfaith.com/hochul-dons-a-hijab) — Hochul Dons a Hijab - [Times of India](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/bending-knee-to-islam-gov-hochuls-hijab-sparks-outrage-in-ny-two-weeks-before-9/11-anniversary/videoshow/133659878.cms) — 'Bending knee to Islam': Gov. Hochul’s hijab sparks outrage in NY, two weeks before 9/11 anniversary - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/bending-knee-to-islam-gov-hochuls-hijab-sparks-outrage-in-ny-two-weeks-before-9/11-anniversary/videoshow/133659878.cms) — 'Bending knee to Islam': Gov. Hochul’s hijab sparks outrage in NY, two weeks before 9/11 anniversary - [Louder With Crowder](https://louderwithcrowder.com/hochul-hijab-event) — NY Gov wears hijab to pander to Muslim men ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 - [Independent Sentinel](https://independentsentinel.com/gov-hochul-in-a-hijab-visits-islamic-ctr-where-imam-blamed-jews-for-9-11) — Hijabbed Gov. Hochul Visits Islamic Ctr. Where Imam Blamed Jews for 9/11 - [Bizpac Review](https://bizpacreview.com/2026/08/31/spencer-pratt-unloads-after-hijab-clad-hochul-visits-islamic-center-what-are-we-doing-1656985) — Spencer Pratt unloads after hijab-clad Hochul visits Islamic center: ‘What are we doing?’ - [HuffPost](https://huffpost.com/entry/kathy-hochul-hijab-maga-response_n_6a9548bfe4b02b920196e8a3) — MAGA Ridiculously Pounces On NY Governor For What She Wore - [Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion](https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/08/new-york-governor-kathy-hochul-dons-hijab-for-event-at-muslim-organization) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul Dons Hijab for Event at Muslim Organization - [American Wire News](https://americanwirenews.com/spencer-pratt-unloads-after-hijab-clad-hochul-visits-islamic-center-what-are-we-doing) — Spencer Pratt unloads after hijab-clad Hochul visits Islamic center: ‘What are we doing?’ · American Wire News - [thedailybs.com](https://thedailybs.com/2026/08/31/slay-kween-spencer-pratt-joins-maga-pile-on-after-feminist-kathy-hochul-dons-hijab) — ‘Slay, kween!’ Spencer Pratt joins MAGA pile-on after ‘feminist’ Kathy Hochul dons hijab - The Daily Bo Snerdley - [The Gateway Pundit](https://thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/new-york-gov-kathy-hochul-dons-hijab-while) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul Dons Hijab While Speaking to Group of Muslim Men * The Gateway Pundit * by Ben Kew - [Mediaite](https://mediaite.com/politics/spencer-pratt-and-maga-bash-ny-gov-kathy-hochul-for-sporting-hijab-at-islamic-center-bowing-to-the-third-world) — Spencer Pratt and MAGA Bash NY Gov Kathy Hochul for Sporting Hijab at Islamic Center: ‘Bowing to the Third World’ - [matzav.com](https://matzav.com/allahu-akhbar-hochul-dons-hijab-during-visit-to-islamic-center) — ALLAHU AKHBAR: Hochul Dons Hijab During Visit to Islamic Center - [Twitchy](https://twitchy.com/samj/2026/08/30/kathy-hochul-head-covering-n2431836) — Fight the Patriarchy — Unless It’s Muslims: Kathy HOCHUL Slaps on a Hijab Weeks Before 9/11 ## Questions **Why did Governor Hochul wear a hijab?** Governor Kathy Hochul stated that she wore a hijab during a visit to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York as a gesture of respect for the Muslim community and its religious customs. The appearance occurred two weeks before the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. **Who criticized Governor Hochul's appearance?** Conservative commentators and Republican figures criticized Governor Hochul's appearance. Some critics accused her of hypocrisy, questioning how the gesture aligned with the Democratic Party's emphasis on women's rights. **How did left-leaning outlets describe the criticism?** Left-leaning outlets described the criticism as a 'ridiculous' or 'ugly MAGA pile-on.' They highlighted comments from figures like Spencer Pratt and noted that Hochul had faced similar criticism previously, which she had addressed by stating she was showing respect for a grieving family's faith. **What detail was noted by some right-leaning reports?** Some right-leaning reports, such as Independent Sentinel, noted that the Islamic center Hochul visited had an imam who had previously blamed Jews for 9/11. This detail was not mentioned in the left- or centre-rated reports. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/governor-hochul-wears-hijab-sparks-conservative-criticism. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Governor Hochul Wears Hijab, Sparks Conservative Criticism", https://mediabias.news/politics/governor-hochul-wears-hijab-sparks-conservative-criticism