Overview
- The posts claimed Zohran Mamdani would require New York elementary students to learn Arabic numerals, a term that refers to the digits 0–9 already taught in every U.S. school.
- Snopes, Newsweek, and Lead Stories found no proposal, legislation, or announcement from Mamdani related to numerals or curriculum changes.
- High-engagement accounts amplified the satire, including Polymarket’s post with nearly 14 million views and a separate post from Derrick Evans with hundreds of thousands of views.
- Lead Stories noted the claim is a rehash of a recurring internet gag that exploits confusion over the phrase “Arabic numerals.”
- The National reported that Mamdani’s office had not issued a public response as of Friday, even as the posts continued to circulate on X.