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Zoran Mandani was sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor on Thursday, January 1st. Mr. Mandani, accompanied by his wife, Rama Dowaj, was sworn in in a private ceremony shortly after midnight. The public ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 1st at City Hall Square, and Mr. Mandani will be introduced by New York State Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Zoran Mamdani officially becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor.
Mamdani, 34, was sworn in in a private ceremony shortly after midnight on Thursday, January 1, 2026. He was joined by his wife Rama Duwaji. He broke with tradition and held his swearing-in ceremony in an abandoned subway station below City Hall in Manhattan.
The public ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 1st at City Hall Square, and Mr. Mandani will be introduced by New York State Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez’s presence underscores the focus of leaders at the heart of a movement that is ushering in a new era for New York City to deliver affordable policies and reimagine what government can do for working people,” Mamdani’s transition team said in a statement.
Fellow democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is also scheduled to attend the public ceremony. Ahead of the ceremony, Sanders said he was “honored” to be a part of this historic moment.
“His inauguration will symbolize the coming together of our city in a metro full of cacophony, diversity, challenge and opportunity,” Sanders told Fox News Digital. “The subway is the lifeblood of our city and a great equalizer for New Yorkers. On the subway, we are all treated the same. The subway connects and unites New Yorkers in their daily lives. For all our individual strengths and weaknesses, we ride the train together to go to faraway places.”
Democratic candidate Mamdani defeated his opponents Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa in the Nov. 4 mayoral election. The Ugandan-born politician identifies as a democratic socialist, like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders, even though his opponents frequently and erroneously refer to him as a “communist.”
In his acceptance speech on election night, the mayor-elect told supporters he intends to fulfill his promise to “meet oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength they fear, not the appeasement they desire.”
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Speaking directly to President Donald Trump, he said, “If anyone can teach the country that was betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it’s this city that birthed him,” referring to Trump’s birthplace of Queens and eventual Manhattan real estate mogul.
“And if there is a way to terrorize a tyrant, it is to dismantle the very conditions that have allowed him to accumulate power. This is not only how to stop Trump, but how to stop the next Trump,” Mamdani continued.
“The Donald Trump family in our city has become so comfortable taking advantage of their tenants that we will hold these rogue landlords accountable. We will end the culture of corruption that has allowed billionaires like Mr. Trump to evade taxes and take advantage of tax breaks,” he said. “New York will continue to be a city of immigrants. Built by immigrants, run by immigrants, and starting tonight, a city led by immigrants.”
Just weeks after his election, Mamdani visited Trump at the White House, and despite their political differences, the two appeared to have a surprisingly friendly meeting.
In particular, Trump, who is known for his outspoken anger toward opponents and perceived enemies, spoke highly of the mayor-elect.
“Being the mayor of New York is a big deal,” the 79-year-old president said. “Especially now. I think you’re at a tipping point…I think you have a chance to make it great.”
Mamdani reiterated that during the campaign, he spoke to Trump voters in New York and expressed their biggest concern was the cost of living and housing, which both leaders agreed was a top priority for the city.
Yuri Gripas/Abaka/Bloomberg via Getty
Reporters tried to lure the pair by mentioning Mamdani’s past comments about President Trump as a “fascist” and “tyrant,” but the president refused to bite.
“That’s okay,” President Trump said with a laugh. “I’ve been called even worse than a tyrant.”
Ultimately, President Trump was asked what seemed to be the most important question of the press conference: “You call New York City home. Do you feel comfortable living in New York City under the Mamdani administration?”
“Yes, I do. I really do,” he admitted. “Especially after the meeting. We agreed on more points than I expected.”
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Mamdani’s swearing-in marked the end of Eric Adams’ single term as mayor.
Adams, a moderate Democrat who ran as an independent for re-election in 2025, remained deeply unpopular during his four years in Gracie House.
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Midterm polls in December 2023 revealed that most voters do not trust Adams’ leadership abilities and are already dissatisfied with the city’s response to homelessness and the city’s budget.
That was a year before a protracted corruption investigation led to a damning federal indictment accusing him of accepting foreign bribes while in power. The Trump administration ultimately moved to dismiss his complaint, but the bipartisan public clashes continued. As of March 2025, Adams’ approval rating was the lowest in Quinnipiac poll history, with only 20% approval and 56% saying he should resign.
Mr. Adams, 65, is committed to reelection and ran as an independent candidate to avoid losing in the Democratic primary. Adams, who was polling in the single digits in late September, ended his campaign, but his name remained on New York City ballots.
