Overview
- Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s mayor, marking the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor and its youngest leader in more than a century.
- In his inaugural address, he pledged to govern “expansively and audaciously,” outlining an affordability agenda that includes higher taxes on the wealthy, expanded childcare, cheaper housing and free transit.
- On his first day, he rescinded multiple Eric Adams executive orders, including New York’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism and a prohibition on city agencies boycotting or divesting from Israel.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the rescissions as “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire,” and the UJA Federation of New York with the New York Board of Rabbis said the move reversed significant protections against antisemitism.
- Mamdani said his administration will combat hate and fund prevention efforts, has not put forward a replacement framework for the rescinded policies, and faces heightened scrutiny as commentators cast his tenure as a test of progressive governance and question some staffing choices.