Zohran Mamdani, 34, was sworn in on Thursday, January 1, as mayor of New York City, the United States’ largest city, becoming its first Muslim mayor.
The oath was taken at an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall. His private ceremony was conducted by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who previously prosecuted U.S. President Donald Trump for fraud.
Mamdani, a Democrat and former New York State Assembly member, campaigned on policies including rent freezes, universal childcare and free public buses.
Born in Uganda and of Indian descent, Mamdani moved to New York at age seven. He will relocate from a Queens apartment to the official mayoral residence in Manhattan for security reasons. The swearing-in ceremony included several Korans, including one that belonged to Puerto Rico-born Black writer Arturo Schomburg.
Asia Pacific Newslog 