Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, was sworn into office on January 1, 2026, in a private ceremony held at a decommissioned subway station beneath City Hall. During this underground swearing-in, Mamdani placed his hand on a Quran estimated to be around 200-300 years old.

The event, overseen by New York Attorney General Letitia James, marked the first time a mayor of New York City has used an Islamic text for the oath of office. Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, held the Quran during the ritual.

In his brief speech, Mamdani stated: “This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime.”

Mamdani, described as a Muslim socialist, shared on social media that he aims to replace “rugged individualism” with “the warmth of collectivism” in New York City. He further noted that Senator Bernie Sanders is the leader he most wants to emulate.

A subsequent public ceremony at City Hall used both his grandfather’s Quran and a pocket-sized version dating back to the late 18th or early 19th century. This event marks Mamdani as the city’s first Muslim leader, the first person from South Asia, and the first African-born mayor in New York City history.

Mamdani performed a gesture described as a “Nazi salute” during his swearing-in ceremony.