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By Jesus Mesa
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The inauguration of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor drew immediate backlash Thursday from conservative figures and Trump-aligned influencers, who criticized his religious faith, political ideology and cultural presentation during the ceremony.
Mamdani, 34, took the oath of office and pledged to govern as a democratic socialist. “Beginning today, we will govern expansively and audaciously,” he said in his speech, where he promised to freeze rents, expand public childcare, and invest in transit. The remarks were delivered to a crowd of thousands outside City Hall, with appearances by Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The event was marked by diverse religious invocations, cultural performances, and progressive rhetoric — all of which drew swift condemnation from conservative figures.
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Why It Matters
Mamdani was officially sworn in on Thursday, taking office as mayor of the nation’s largest city after New York recorded its highest mayoral turnout in decades. His victory last year stunned the political establishment, defeating Republican Curtis Sliwa and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who mounted an independent bid after losing the Democratic primary.
His improbable rise was fueled by a campaign centered on a small set of concrete promises, including freezing rent, making city buses free, and guaranteeing universal child care.
What To Know
Mamdani’s decision to be sworn in on the Quran, the inclusion of Islamic performers, and a prayer from Imam Khalid Latif drew sharp criticism from conservative figures. He used two Qurans during the ceremony—one from his family and another once owned by Harlem Renaissance figure Arturo Schomburg.
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, posted a series of critical messages throughout the day, including: “Everything is… foreign” and “All of the worst people are attending Mamdani’s inauguration today.”
Loomer also accused New York Governor Kathy Hochul of “clapping for socialism” after Mamdani reaffirmed in his speech that he “was elected as a democratic socialist and will govern as a democratic socialist.”
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“Someone make this a campaign ad,” Loomer wrote, referencing what she described as Hochul’s apparent discomfort while seated near other Democratic officials.
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican representing Staten Island, echoed concerns from the right in a more formal tone: “New Yorkers are in for a rude awakening,” she posted on X. “Mamdani’s policies will only make our city less safe and affordable but we’ll do everything we can to stop his radical & reckless agenda.”
The criticism wasn’t limited to social media influencers. “Good luck NYC. You're gonna need it,” posted the account @EndWokeness, a popular right-wing platform with over a million followers on X.
April Silverman, a political activist and regular Fox News commentator, called the moment “filth in one picture” and urged followers to “pray for NYC.”
Affordability Takes the Stage
Throughout the ceremony, Mamdani and other speakers hit on the theme that carried him to victory in the election: Devotion to using government power to lift up the millions of people who struggle with the city's high cost of living.
Mamdani peppered his remarks with references to those New Yorkers, citing workers in steel-toed boots, halal cart vendors “whose knees ache from working all day,” and cooks “wielding a thousand spices."
"I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist,” Mamdani said. “I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed ‘radical.’”
Mamdani inherits a city on the upswing, after years of slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Violent crime has dropped to pre-pandemic lows. Tourists are back. Unemployment, which soared during the pandemic years, is also back to pre-COVID levels.
What People Are Saying
Mamdani, in his speech during the inauguration, said: “We will set an example for the world. If what Sinatra said is true, let us prove that anyone can make it in New York and anywhere else, too.”
Senator Bernie Sanders, at the same event, said: “Providing free and high-quality child care is not radical. Countries all over the world have done it for years. It is what our kids require if they’re going to be well prepared for school, and what working parents desperately need.”
President Donald Trump told reporters after meeting Mamdani in November: “We’re going to be helping him to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York.”
What Happens Next
The new mayor now faces the challenge of delivering his ambitious agenda while navigating opposition not only from conservative critics, but also from a centrist state government and an unpredictable White House.
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