Yes, Kathy Hochul covered her head while speaking at NYC mosque

In late August 2026, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul was criticized after she purportedly wore a head covering to a mosque.

Videos (archived) on Instagram, Facebook, and X (archived) claimed to show Hochul wearing a black head scarf or hijab while speaking at a mosque, which conservative critics claimed was disrespectful so close to the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Snopes readers asked us to confirm whether Hochul was wearing a hijab — a covering for the head, hair and neck that is typically worn by some Muslim women.

The above video is authentic. On Aug. 28, 2026, Hochul visited the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and covered her head as a gesture of respect as she was speaking in the prayer hall. Hochul has worn a head covering at events with Muslims before and has even spoken out in favor of Muslim women choosing to wear the hijab. She was not, however, wearing a traditional hijab. As such, we rate this claim as a mixture of true and false information.

Social media posts and media coverage often erroneously simplify the meaning of “hijab” and claim it is just a headscarf. The term “hijab” has many interpretations but broadly refers to a veil or barrier and is a practice involving modesty for both men and women. Wearing hijab involves modest clothing in an Islamic context, including a head covering. It is worn in many styles but for Muslim women today, the hijab colloquially refers to the covering that typically conceals the head, all the hair and neck while leaving the face uncovered. 

In available photographs of Hochul covering her head, her hair is visible. She is wearing a headscarf, and not participating in the practice of wearing hijab, as is typically done by Muslim women. 

Hochul was visiting the Islamic Cultural Center in New York City during Friday prayers. The above video shows her standing before the front wall of the mosque with the decorative glass niche behind her (visible in these videos of the Islamic Cultural Center at 0:23 and 3:29).

The official Instagram account for the Islamic Cultural Center School — which is affiliated with the Islamic Cultural Center— posted about Hochul’s visit and noted that the governor joined for Friday prayers:

Governor Hochul joined our community at ICCNY for Friday Jumaa, where she addressed the congregation, before visiting the Islamic Cultural Center School of New York. She toured the school, stepped into our classrooms and learned more about the community we are so proud to serve.

Hochul is wearing the same outfit in the above Instagram post and in the videos being shared on social media. However, during her visit to the Islamic Cultural Center School, Hochul’s head was uncovered. She covered only it when speaking at the gathering at the prayer hall.

All Muslim women cover their heads when praying or when inside the prayer hall of a mosque, with some — but not all — in hijab. Given that Hochul was in attendance for Friday prayers at the mosque, covering her head can be seen as a sign of respect.

This was not the first time Hochul covered her head at a religious gathering for Muslims. In July 2025, she covered her head when speaking at the funeral of a slain Muslim police officer. In 2020, she covered her head when speaking at the Jamaica Muslim Center.

In February 2024, Hochul posted (archived) on X in support of World Hijab Day, writing: “we stand in solidarity with our Muslim sisters who choose to wear the hijab. New York’s diversity has always been its strength, and together, we will always promote respect, inclusion, and religious freedom in the face of hate.”

The post also showed Hochul shaking hands with a Muslim hijabi woman while wearing a head covering. Another Muslim woman in the photograph is wearing a head covering similar to Hochul’s:

Hochul has not publicly addressed the criticism as of this writing.

Snopes has previously covered examples of other leaders wearing head coverings as a sign of respect among Muslim communities, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. 

Sources