NEW YORK — Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old progressive who vaulted from relative obscurity to the pinnacle of municipal power, was sworn in shortly after midnight Thursday as New York City’s mayor, beginning a four-year term likely to be defined by confrontation with President Donald Trump.
Mamdani took the oath of office at an abandoned subway station beneath City Hall, an unconventional setting his team said symbolized his allegiance to working New Yorkers. With the turn of the calendar to 2026, he became the city’s first Muslim mayor, inheriting leadership of the nation’s largest metropolis at a moment of deep economic and political strain.
“This is truly the honor and privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani told reporters after the ceremony.
A year ago, Mamdani was little known beyond left-wing political circles. His rise was fueled by a campaign focused on affordability, including proposals for rent freezes, universal child care, and free public buses. Whether he can translate bold promises into results remains an open question.
“Once an election is over, symbolism only goes so far,” said John Kane, a lecturer at New York University. “Results begin to matter a whole lot more.”
Hovering over Mamdani’s tenure is Trump, a fellow New Yorker who has alternately mocked and menaced the new mayor. Though the two held unexpectedly cordial talks at the White House in November, analysts warn the relationship could sour quickly, particularly over immigration enforcement. Mamdani has pledged to shield immigrant communities as Trump expands federal crackdowns.
Trump previously threatened to cut federal funding if Mamdani won, calling him a “communist lunatic.” Mamdani, for his part, has labeled Trump a fascist.
The private swearing-in was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who prosecuted Trump for fraud. A larger inauguration later Thursday will feature Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, followed by a citywide block party.
Born in Uganda to an Indian family and raised in New York from age seven, Mamdani brings limited governing experience but is assembling a seasoned team of aides. As mayor, he must now balance progressive ideals with the practical demands of governing a complex, divided city.
