During a 9/11 memorial event in New York City, New York Mayor Zorhan Mamdani claimed he would ask King Charles III to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India—but failed to follow through.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) claimed he would ask King Charles III to transfer the Koh-i-Noor diamond to India during a 9/11 memorial event in New York City on Wednesday. However, video footage of the Uganda-born ethnic Indian interacting with the British monarch at the memorial suggests he made no such request when given the opportunity. 📺 DETAIL: Mamdani made the remarks while taking questions from reporters, noting that, rather than discussing British-American trade and investment or other priorities relevant to New Yorkers, he would use any meeting with the King to “encourage” him to send the diamond to his ancestral homeland. The Koh-i-Noor diamond, now part of the British Crown Jewels, has long been a source of international dispute due to its origins in India and its transfer to Britain during the 19th century under colonial rule. India, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan have previously laid claim to the diamond, though the British government has given no indication that it will be sent anywhere. Mamdani’s comments came ahead of a scheduled meeting with the King during his U.S. visit, which includes events commemorating the upcoming 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. However, video of that meeting shows Mamdani smiling, bowing, and shaking hands with the King, with no indication that he pressed India’s claims to the Koh-i-Noor. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “You know, if I was to speak to the King separately from that, I would probably encourage him to return the Koh-i-Noor diamond.” – Zohran Mamdani. 📺 FLASHBACK: The diamond, known as the ‘Mountain of Light,’ became part of the British Crown Jewels after the Treaty of Lahore in 1849, which required the young ruler of Punjab to cede sovereignty and the diamond to Britain. It has since been worn by several British queens, most recently being set in the crown of the King’s late grandmother. |
Mamdani calls on King Charles to give India the Kohinoor Diamond pic.twitter.com/HdWsOnh02W
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 29, 2026
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