New York, January 1, 2025: Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive Democrat and rising figure of the US left, was sworn in early Thursday as mayor of New York City, becoming the first Muslim to hold the office and setting the stage for a potentially contentious relationship with US President Donald Trump.
Mamdani took the oath of office just after midnight at an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall, marking the start of his four-year term as mayor of the United States’ largest city. His office said the understated venue symbolised his commitment to working people, a central theme of his campaign focused on tackling the soaring cost of living.
According to NBC News, Mamdani took the oath with his hands on two copies of the Holy Quran, one belonging to his grandfather and the other from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
“Happy New Year to New Yorkers, both inside this tunnel and above,” Mamdani said after taking the oath. “This is truly an honour and a privilege of a lifetime.”
He also described the historic subway station as “a testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health, and the legacy of our city.”
The private swearing-in ceremony was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who previously prosecuted Trump for fraud. Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, was present, as were his parents, renowned filmmaker Mira Nair and Columbia University professor Mahmood Mamdani, according to CNN.
A larger, ceremonial inauguration is scheduled later on Thursday outside City Hall, with speeches expected from Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Around 4,000 ticketed guests are expected to attend, while Mamdani’s team has also organised a public block party with streetside viewing areas along Broadway for tens of thousands of New Yorkers.
Under New York law, mayoral terms begin on January 1 following elections, and it has become tradition to hold a brief swearing-in just after midnight to avoid any ambiguity over leadership of the city.
Born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin, Mamdani moved to New York at the age of seven. Despite a relatively short political career—having served as a member of the New York State Assembly—he secured a decisive mayoral victory, inspiring a record turnout of more than two million voters. He won about 50 per cent of the vote, nearly 10 points ahead of independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and well ahead of Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani has pledged to freeze rents, introduce free buses and childcare, and prioritise affordability, positioning his agenda as a possible blueprint for the Democratic Party ahead of upcoming midterm elections. He has also begun engaging with business leaders, some of whom had warned of an exodus of wealthy residents if he won—claims since disputed by real estate executives.
The new mayor is expected to rely on seasoned aides drawn from previous mayoral administrations and the former Joe Biden administration as he begins his tenure at City Hall.
