Conservative media personality Ben Shapiro engaged in a public dispute with The New York Times over the newspaper's coverage of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Shapiro asserted that the Times' website framed the event as an attack on Muslims, a characterization the newspaper strongly refuted.
In a post on X, Shapiro criticized the newspaper's homepage, which featured articles referencing Islamophobia alongside its reporting on the anniversary. He stated, "If you were an alien who landed on Earth this morning, and you were reading the top headlines on the NYT’s webpage, you would immediately assume that 9/11 was an attack on Muslims." Shapiro pointed to specific headlines, including one that read, "Facing Islamophobia, Mamdani Keeps Focus on 9/11 Victims," and another discussing how "Islamophobia Shaped a Generation of Muslim New Yorkers."
The New York Times responded to Shapiro's claims via its official X account, calling his statement "misleading" and a "disingenuous attempt to seek attention and stoke outrage." The newspaper defended its reporting, stating, "In the 25 years since that day, we have led the way on reporting on the event, its human toll, and resulting societal shifts. Audiences can see for themselves The Times’s coverage now, which features a deep and diverse set of journalism reflecting on a globally significant event."
Shapiro countered by sharing a screenshot that he claimed showed the New York Times' mobile homepage on the morning of the anniversary. He highlighted a story with the headline "Islamophobia Shaped a Generation of Muslim New Yorkers" as being prominently displayed. One of the stories mentioned by Shapiro focused on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, and attacks he faced. Another article reportedly discussed the "suspicion and hostility" directed at Muslim New Yorkers in the wake of the attacks.