New York City witnessed a groundbreaking political milestone on Thursday as Zohran Mamdani assumed office as the city’s first Muslim mayor. The historic inauguration ceremony, conducted in a decommissioned subway station beneath Times Square just after midnight, featured Mayor Mamdani taking his oath of office using two significant Qurans: a personal copy that belonged to his grandfather and a 200-year-old archival version loaned from the New York Public Library.
The 34-year-old mayor, who also holds the distinction of being New York’s first chief executive of South Asian heritage and the first born in Africa, marked the occasion with a subdued private ceremony attended by his wife, artist Rama Duwaji, who held the religious texts during the oath-taking. Former Mayor Eric Adams, known for his pro-Israel stance during his single term, was also present at the midnight event.
Mayor Mamdani characterized the appointment as “the honor and privilege of a lifetime” during remarks to reporters, emphasizing the symbolic significance of choosing a historic transit site for his swearing-in. “This old City Hall subway station stands as testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, health, and legacy of our city,” he stated.
The inauguration drew immediate criticism from conservative figures, including Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, who described the event with alarmist rhetoric, and Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who questioned the validity of a Quran-based oath. These reactions prompted responses from civil rights organizations, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations having previously designated Tuberville as an anti-Muslim extremist.
Mayor Mamdani’s political ascent represents a significant shift in New York’s political landscape, built on an unapologetically progressive platform that championed rent control, free public transit, and increased taxes on wealthy residents. His campaign notably centered his Muslim identity and Palestinian advocacy in a city historically shaped by the aftermath of 9/11 and subsequent Islamophobic sentiment.
The new mayor’s relationship with former President Donald Trump revealed surprising political dynamics. Despite Trump’s previous threats to withhold federal funding if Mamdani won, the two held a cordial White House meeting where Trump unexpectedly defended the mayor against aggressive questioning from reporters, even as Mamdani maintained his characterization of Trump as a fascist.
A second, more elaborate public inauguration ceremony was scheduled for Thursday afternoon at City Hall, featuring Senator Bernie Sanders administering the oath of office.