2023 Video Of Man Removing US Flag In New York Linked To Zohran Mamdani’s Mayoral Win

34-year-old Zohran Mamdani was recently elected as the Mayor of New York City, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and making history as the city’s first Muslim mayor.

Shortly after his victory, a video began circulating online, allegedly showing a Muslim man removing the US flag from a lamppost in New York. Social media users claimed the act was a reaction to Mamdani’s election win.

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Evidence

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframes led to an X post by @NinooCiber, dated November 11, 2023, showing the same footage and identifying it as a pro-Palestine protest in the United States.

A Fox News report published on the same day confirmed that Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan was temporarily closed due to pro-Palestine demonstrations. Carrying the now-viral footage, the report stated that a protester climbed a streetpost to remove American and UN flags, later being arrested by New York Police Department (NYPD) officers.

The report also featured a photo of the police officers detaining the protesters who climbed the streetpost and removed the flags.

Several other credible media outlets  (seen here, here and here) also reported on the November 10, 2023, pro-Palestine protest in Manhattan.

In contrast, Zohran Mamdani was elected New York City Mayor on November 4, 2025, nearly two years after this protest took place — confirming that the video and his election are unrelated.

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Verdict

The viral video of a man removing the US flag in New York is from 2023 and shows a pro-Palestine protest, not a post-election act after Zohran Mamdani’s win. 

FAQs

Q1. What does the viral video show?
The video shows a man removing the US flag in New York during a 2023 pro-Palestine protest.

Q2. Is the video connected to Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory?
No. The video predates Mamdani’s 2025 election by nearly two years and is unrelated to his win.

Q3. Why did the old video resurface now?
It resurfaced after Mamdani’s win, with false claims linking it to his supporters as part of a misinformation campaign.

Q4. How can you verify the authenticity of viral videos?
Check the original upload date using reverse image or video search tools, and cross-verify with reports from credible news sources.

Sources
X Post By @NinooCiber, Dated November 11, 2023
Report By Fox News, Dated November 11, 2023