Democratic politician Zahraan Mamdani, a prominent critic of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is set to assume office as Mayor of New York City on Thursday, becoming the first Muslim mayor in the city’s history. Mamdani was elected in November for a four-year term.
Official Inauguration Events
Mamdani will take the oath of office shortly after midnight, administered by Letitia James, New York State Attorney General and a close ally of the mayor-elect, as well as a longtime legal adversary of Donald Trump. A formal ceremony will follow at City Hall, chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders, a leading figure of the American left. A public celebration is scheduled to take place later in the day in Mamdani’s neighborhood.
The inauguration reflects one of the central messages of Mamdani’s campaign: that “New York is a great city to live in,” according to Lincoln Mitchell, a political science professor at Columbia University, speaking to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Campaign Promises Amid Political Challenges
Mamdani, who identifies as a democratic socialist in a country where the term is often associated with the far left, built his campaign around addressing the rising cost of living in a city of 8.5 million residents.
However, his predecessor, Eric Adams, complicated a key proposal to freeze rents for more than one million apartments by appointing or reappointing close allies to the Rent Guidelines Board, the body responsible for such decisions.
Details on how Mamdani plans to implement other campaign promises—such as building 200,000 affordable housing units, providing universal childcare, opening publicly owned discount supermarkets, and introducing free public transportation—have yet to be announced.
Mamdani maintains strong relations with Governor Kathy Hochul, a fellow Democrat who holds authority over several municipal measures, including the tax increases Mamdani intends to propose.
Relationship With Donald Trump
Contrary to expectations following a heated election campaign, a meeting between Mamdani and Donald Trump in late November was described as cordial.
Now that the election has concluded, John Keane, a professor at New York University, notes that “results matter more than symbols,” adding that Mamdani has wisely sought common ground with Trump by emphasizing a shared goal of making New York a better place to live.
However, with increased activity by federal immigration enforcement agents in the city, the durability of this cooperation remains uncertain. Lincoln Mitchell notes that voters “truly expect” the new mayor to take a firm stand against Trump’s policies.
Reassuring the Public
At 34 years old, Mamdani is among the youngest mayors in New York City’s history, a position held by at least 111 individuals. Prior to this role, he had served only as a state assembly representative.
Despite criticism over his limited experience, Mamdani has surrounded himself with a seasoned advisory team, including officials who previously served in past administrations, notably under former President Joe Biden.
He has also engaged early with the business community, which had feared a mass departure of wealthy residents. Such concerns have not materialized so far, according to real estate executives in recent weeks.
A vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, Mamdani—an American of Indian origin and a Muslim—continues efforts to reassure the city’s Jewish community. Recently, one of his aides resigned after old social media posts were revealed and deemed antisemitic.
A Media-Focused Public Figure
According to Lincoln Mitchell, “New York City’s mayor has almost always been a cultural figure,” constantly analyzed by the media. Outlets such as The New York Times have highlighted Mamdani’s brief involvement in rap music, improvisation classes in Manhattan, participation in a Brooklyn football team, and his choice of simple, affordable suits aimed at projecting professionalism.
Equal attention has been given to his wife, Rama Douji, a Syrian-born artist. Her Instagram account surpassed one million followers since the election, according to Social Blade.
Featured recently on the cover of The Cut, a New York–based fashion and culture magazine, Douji stated that she is not a politician but a supporter of “ZZ,” Mamdani’s nickname, and hopes to use her new platform to showcase her artistic work.
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