Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist who was inaugurated as New York City mayor on Thursday, began his first full day in office with a symbolic subway commute from his cramped Queens apartment. Bundled against the cold and battling a cold, he departed his one-bedroom flat shared with his wife, accompanied by a photo and video crew and frequently paused by well-wishing neighbours.
On the Manhattan-bound train, flanked by security and aides, Mamdani agreed to selfies with riders before reviewing briefing materials in a corner seat. When French tourists expressed doubt about his identity, he held up the morning's New York Daily News featuring his smiling face as proof. The images of his commute quickly lit up social media, reflecting his inaugural pledge to ensure his 'government looks and lives like the people it represents.'
Mamdani's early actions have underscored that priority. After centring his campaign on making rent cheaper, he raced from his inauguration to a Brooklyn apartment building lobby, drawing cheers from a tenants union as he pledged to ramp up a legal fight against an allegedly negligent landlord. He also revoked a slate of executive orders issued by his predecessor Eric Adams, including two related to Israel: one adopting a contentious definition of antisemitism and another barring city agencies from boycotting or divesting from the country.
The move drew swift backlash from some Jewish groups and the Israeli government, which accused Mamdani of pouring 'antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.' In response, Mamdani read from prepared remarks, promising his administration would be 'relentless in its effort to combat hate and division,' and noted he had left in place the Mayor's Office to Combat Antisemitism. He also announced the creation of a 'mass engagement' office to continue his campaign's field work.
Surrounded by supporters and passersby, Mamdani acknowledged the weight of the moment: 'We have an opportunity where New Yorkers are allowing themselves to believe in the possibility of city government once again. That is not a belief that will sustain itself in the absence of action.' Among his upcoming tasks is moving to the mayor's official residence on the Upper East Side before his Queens apartment lease ends.
