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On a freezing New York morning that somehow still felt warm with possibility (and a lot of shouting), Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 112th mayor of New York City — and immediately made history as the city’s first Muslim mayor and its first mayor of South Asian descent.
At 34, Mamdani’s rise has already been billed as disruptive, audacious, and slightly anxiety-inducing for America’s billionaires. But if his inauguration was anything to go by, it was also deeply online, unapologetically desi, and full of moments that felt tailor-made for group chats.
He took the oath on the steps of City Hall, vowing to govern as a democratic socialist and promising universal childcare, affordable rents and free bus service. “We will answer to all New Yorkers, not to any billionaire or oligarch who thinks they can buy our democracy,” he said.
If Mamdani was the main character, then Bernie Sanders was the beloved elder making a cameo — this time without the infamous mitten-and-mask combo that broke the internet during former US president Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Instead, Sanders opted for a green puffer coat and a familiar message: taxing the rich is not radical, it’s decent. The crowd agreed, erupting into chants of “tax the rich”, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looked on, very much in her element among fellow democratic socialists.
Sanders, whom Mamdani has repeatedly cited as an inspiration, framed the new mayor’s agenda as common sense, which, in today’s America, is apparently the most radical stance of all.
No modern political event is complete without a bizarre culture war skirmish, and this one centred on footwear.
Social media briefly lost its mind after reports that Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, wore Miista ‘Shelley Boots’ worth over $600 to the inauguration. Conservative outlets clutched their pearls, declaring it hypocritical for the spouse of an affordability-first mayor to wear designer shoes.
The internet, however, was not having it.
From “socialism doesn’t mean you can’t have nice things” to the now-iconic explanation that “Syrian culture has a strong taboo against ugly shoes on the biggest day of your life,” the backlash to the-backlash was swift, sarcastic, and brutal.
Somewhere in the chaos, a useful reminder emerged: billionaires are looting cities daily, but sure, let’s argue about boots.
One journalist eventually found out that she had borrowed or rented most of her outfit. Sustainable queen!
Then came the fashion discourse no one asked for but everyone enjoyed. A photo of filmmaker Mira Nair sparked a mini debate online, with users arguing over whether she was channelling Jawaharlal Nehru or Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
“Why is Mira Nair trying to do the Nehru fit?” asked one user.
“That’s a Jinnah fit, sorry,” corrected another.
Somewhere in the replies, Mamdani’s parents were dubbed “auramaxxers,” because of course they were.
One of the most shared clips from the ceremony wasn’t political at all. It was Mamdani thanking his wife during his address, calling her his best friend and crediting her with helping him see beauty in everyday things, as Duwaji visibly fought back tears.
We‘re not crying, you’re crying.
The ceremony wrapped up with what might be its most joyful flex: Punjabi music blasting through City Hall.
Toronto-based artist Babbulicious performed ‘Gaddi Red Challenger’, with Mamdani, Duwaji and hundreds of New Yorkers visibly vibing despite the cold.
For Mamdani, born to an Indian mother and a Ugandan father of Indian origin, it was another nod to the South Asian diaspora he openly courted during his campaign (yes, the one that included Hindi videos and ‘Dhoom Machale’).
Predictably, the far-right corners of the internet responded with hysteria. One viral post warned darkly of an “Islamic takeover of America” because the music wasn’t in English and there were Muslim men on stage. New York, it seems, has survived worse.
Before the crowds, chants, and choreography, Mamdani had been sworn in privately just after midnight at the decommissioned City Hall subway station, a historic space that is opened only a few times a year. He took the oath on the Holy Quran, marking another first for the city.
By the time the public ceremony rolled around, it was clear, New York had entered its multicultural, meme-ready and unmistakably desi era, and there shouldn‘t be any reason to complain — unless you’re Trump.