Zohran Mamdani Takes Oath As New York City's First Muslim Mayor With Hand On Quran

Last Updated:January 01, 2026, 11:09 IST

Zohran Mamdani, age 34, was sworn in as New York's first Muslim mayor, set for a four-year term likely to involve clashes with President Donald Trump.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, left, administers the oath of office to mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, center, as his wife Rama Duwaji looks on, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (IMAGE: AP Photo)

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani was sworn in early Thursday as the next mayor of New York City, beginning a four-year term at the helm of the United States’ largest city.

Although Mamdani and US President Donald Trump held a cordial meeting last year, political observers have said the two are expected to clash during Mamdani’s tenure, given their sharply differing political positions.

Mamdani, who is New York City’s first Indian-origin mayor, took his oath of office just after midnight at an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall. He placed his hand on the Quran during the ceremony, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor.

The oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a political ally, at the former City Hall subway station, one of the city’s original stops, known for its arched ceilings and historical significance.

In brief remarks following the ceremony, Mamdani described the location as a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city." He also announced the appointment of Mike Flynn as his commissioner of the Department of Transportation.

“This is truly the honour and privilege of a lifetime," Mamdani said.

He concluded his remarks with a brief farewell before leaving the station.

Mamdani is scheduled to be sworn in again later Thursday in a public ceremony at City Hall, to be administered by US Senator Bernie Sanders, a longtime political mentor. The ceremony will be followed by a public block party along a stretch of Broadway known as the “Canyon of Heroes," traditionally associated with New York’s ticker-tape parades.

Mamdani now begins one of the most demanding roles in American politics, stepping into office as one of the country’s most closely watched political figures.

Youngest Mayor In Generations

In addition to being the city’s first Muslim mayor, Mamdani is also its first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. At 34, Mamdani is also the city’s youngest mayor in generations.

In a campaign that helped make “affordability" a buzzword across the political spectrum, the democratic socialist promised to bring transformative change with policies intended to lower the cost of living in one of the world’s most expensive cities. His platform included free child care, free buses, a rent freeze for about 1 million households, and a pilot of city-run grocery stores.

But he will also have to face other responsibilities: handling trash and snow and rats, while getting blamed for subway delays and potholes.

Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda, the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani, an academic and author. His family moved to New York City when he was 7, with Mamdani growing up in a post-9/11 city where Muslims didn’t always feel welcome. He became an American citizen in 2018.

(with inputs from the Associated Press)

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