New Jersey Representative Tom Kean Jr. found himself in a controversial spotlight after being photographed with GOP activist Ibrar Zulfiqar Bhutta, also known as Ibrar Nadeem. The activist has been accused of making homophobic and antisemitic remarks.
On August 22, 2025, Nadeem shared images on Facebook featuring himself with Kean and Jack Ciattarelli, the former Republican gubernatorial candidate of New Jersey. “Two powerful days, two powerful meetings,” Nadeem commented in his post, highlighting his interactions with the political figures.
During this period, Nadeem was engaged with Ciattarelli’s campaign team, serving as the executive director of Muslim relations. He played a significant role as a campaign surrogate at an event in Piscataway on October 18. At this gathering, Nadeem made controversial statements endorsing a ban on same-sex marriage and proudly claimed he did not accept donations from Jewish people.
“Somebody said you are taking money from Jews,” Nadeem declared. “I check my bank account every day, brother. It is not there.”
These remarks drew criticism from various New Jersey officials, who urged Ciattarelli to dismiss Nadeem from his campaign. Livingston Deputy Mayor Shawn Klein expressed his concerns to NJ.com, stating, “I don’t know the heart of this man who is speaking, but with his comments, he’s either speaking against Jews himself or to others in the room who are clearly antisemitic.”
Despite the controversy, Kean chose not to publicly condemn Nadeem’s statements and remained supportive of Ciattarelli’s gubernatorial campaign. This silence is seen as potentially conflicting with Kean’s public commitments to combat antisemitism, a topic he frequently addresses in his political career. “At a time when antisemitic hate has reached alarming levels, I am pleased to stand with the Jewish community in the U.S. and around the world in calling out this evil,” Kean wrote on social media in September.
In January, Nadeem once again shared the photo with Kean, this time identifying another individual in the image as “Uncle Ashraf,” a local pharmacist and business owner. “Uncle Ashraf has built a legacy through service and sincerity,” Nadeem wrote. “It was a true honor to stand beside him and Congressman Kean Jr. in my office.”
Kean’s political history includes a vote against marriage equality during his tenure as a state senator in 2010 and 2012. However, he has since expressed a change in stance, indicating support for same-sex unions. As Kean campaigns for a third term in the House this year, his past decisions and associations continue to be points of discussion.
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