Zohran Mamdani Takes Office as New York Mayor in Dual Ceremonies

Overview

• Mamdani is being sworn in twice on Jan. 1, with a private oath just after midnight at the Old City Hall station and a public ceremony at City Hall at noon.
• He will use his grandfather’s Qur’an for the public ceremony and a copy that belonged to Arturo Schomburg for the private oath, secured with help from the New York Public Library.
• Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will preside over the noon program, which will host about 4,000 guests with additional street viewing areas.
• His campaign promises include a rent freeze, free childcare and free public buses, setting high expectations for early policy moves.
• Early challenges include repeated criticism and funding threats from President Trump and repairing trust after a staff member resigned over past antisemitic tweets.