Misinformation circulates online following false claims about Mamdani’s election as NYC mayor.’
Introduction
A recent social media post circulating on X, Instagram, and Reddit claimed that the New York Jets had introduced new cheerleaders for 2026, depicting women wearing green niqabs with the Jets logo on their attire. The caption suggested that this change was linked to Zohran Mamdani’s election win in New York City, insinuating that Muslim political influence was extending into American sports culture. Investigation into the image revealed it is entirely AI-generated. Reverse image searches uncovered multiple identical posts shared since November 7, attempting to frame the fabricated photo as evidence of “Islamization” following Mamdani’s political success. The image exhibits common signs of synthetic manipulation, including blurred outlines, rigid body postures, distorted hands, and an outdated Jets logo retired in 2023. The New York Jets have made no official changes to cheerleader uniforms, and no NFL team incorporates religious attire into their branding. Experts and analysts note that this image fits a broader pattern of Islamophobic disinformation, portraying Mamdani as a radical or extremist to stoke fear and division among social media audiences.
Viral Elon Musk Deepfake Video Claim
Another viral post, amassing over 4.4 million views on X, featured a video allegedly showing Elon Musk explaining the implications of Mamdani’s election, discussing what it meant for America and the world. Analysis confirmed that the clip is a synthetic AI deepfake, with both the voice and facial movements artificially generated. The original YouTube upload from November 6, 2025, explicitly stated that the video employed a synthesized voice and did not feature real statements from Musk. However, when the video was reshared on platforms like X and TikTok, the disclaimer was removed, giving the impression of authentic political commentary. The deepfake employed hyper-realistic lip-syncing and AI-generated visuals to create a convincing but entirely fabricated scenario. No verified record exists of Musk commenting on Mamdani’s election, and the content is a classic case of context stripping, where transparent AI experiments are misrepresented as factual statements to mislead viewers.
Analysis of the Disinformation Pattern
Both the AI-generated cheerleader image and the Musk deepfake video reflect a coordinated pattern of online misinformation. These posts exploit generative AI to fabricate content that reinforces Islamophobic and politically charged narratives, blending technological realism with ideological manipulation. The cheerleader image weaponizes cultural anxieties, while the Musk deepfake amplifies perceived political threats, demonstrating how AI can be used to distort public perception and inflame social tensions. Together, they highlight the growing challenge of distinguishing between satire, experimental media, and maliciously fabricated content in the age of synthetic media.
Conclusion
Neither the New York Jets cheerleader image nor the Elon Musk video is real. Both are AI-generated, manipulated, and deliberately misrepresented to influence public perception following Zohran Mamdani’s election. The disinformation campaign combines synthetic media with Islamophobic and politically charged narratives, exemplifying the modern landscape of AI-driven deception and the need for critical media literacy.
CyberPoe Verdict: ❌ Coordinated AI Disinformation Campaign
Category: 🔴 Synthetic Media / Islamophobic & Political Manipulation
CyberPoe | The Anti-Propaganda Frontline 🌍
