The inauguration of Mamdani as mayor of New York marked a symbolic and political turning point in the history of the United States’ largest city. 

Young, left-wing and focused on housing and cost-of-living reforms, the new mayor begins his term under the looming prospect of a direct confrontation with Trump, the country’s president.

Mamdani took the oath of office shortly after midnight on January 1, while tens of thousands celebrated the New Year in Times Square. He chose Old City Hall, a long-abandoned Manhattan subway station, as the setting for the ceremony.

At 34, Mamdani became the first Muslim mayor of New York City, the first of South Asian descent and the first Africa-born individual to hold the position. 

Born in Uganda to an Indian family, he moved to New York at age seven and later received an elite education before launching a relatively short political career that took him from the state legislature to City Hall.

His governing platform includes sweeping proposals such as rent freezes, expanded public childcare, free bus transportation and stronger municipal intervention in the housing market. 

While progressives have welcomed these ideas, business leaders have voiced concern, and tensions with the federal government appear likely.

Relations with Trump stand out as one of the defining challenges of Mamdani’s term. During the campaign, Trump repeatedly attacked him, labeling him a “communist lunatic” and threatening to cut federal funding to New York. 

Mamdani, in turn, has described Trump as a fascist, though the two held a cordial meeting at the White House in November.

“From Mamdani’s perspective, that meeting could not have gone better,” said Columbia University political analyst Lincoln Mitchell, who warned that relations could sour quickly, particularly over federal immigration raids. 

Mamdani has pledged to protect immigrant communities and defend New York’s sanctuary city policies.

Mamdani and his tense relationship with Trump

The official inauguration continues with a midday ceremony at City Hall, attended by prominent progressive figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, alongside roughly 4,000 guests. 

The mayor’s team also organized neighborhood viewing areas, turning the event into a citywide community celebration.

One of the most striking moments of the swearing-in was Mamdani’s oath on centuries-old Qurans, a first in the city’s history. 

He used three copies: two inherited from his grandparents and a historic pocket manuscript preserved by the New York Public Library. The gesture highlighted the city’s religious and cultural diversity.

A vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and a sharp critic of Israel, Mamdani now faces the task of reassuring New York’s Jewish community about his commitment to inclusive leadership. 

The recent resignation of a close aide over past antisemitic social media posts prompted the mayor to reiterate his rejection of all forms of hatred.

As he begins a four-year term, Mamdani’s leadership will test both his governing skills and his ability to navigate a deeply polarized national landscape, with New York once again positioned at the center of the clash between progressive urban politics and federal power.