Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, was sworn in using a Quran during an underground ceremony at a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall. The 34-year-old Democrat became the city’s first Muslim leader and the first person of South Asian descent to hold the office.
Mamdani took his oath of office with his wife, Rama Duwaji, holding the ancient Quran over which he placed his hand. The private ceremony was overseen by New York Attorney General Letitia James at a historic subway station known for its arched ceilings.
The mayor later participated in a public swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on January 1, 2026, where no American flag was displayed and no reference to God was made. During his campaign, Mamdani pledged to replace American “rugged individualism” with “the warmth of collectivism,” a statement he publicly shared on social media platforms.
Mamdani used two Qurans during the ceremony: one from his grandfather and a pocket-sized version dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century. The event marked the first time a mayor of New York City has sworn in using Islam’s holy text, reflecting his campaign focus on building support among immigrants from predominantly Muslim nations.