New Yorkers have hit back at Donald Trump by electing his “worst nightmare” as their new mayor: the leftist, progressive Zohran Mamdani.
Mamdani makes history as the first Muslim mayor of New York, and at 34, is the youngest person in over a century to lead the city.
Who is Zohran Mamdani?
Mamdani was born in Kampala, Uganda in 1991 to highly accomplished parents - author and academic Mahmood Mamdani and Oscar-nominated director Mira Nair.
He moved to New York City aged seven when his father became an anthropology professor at the city’s historic Columbia University.
Growing up, Mamdani heard the siren call of his friends across the pond and identified as a committed devotee of Arsenal football club. Like many of the team’s international comrades, the future mayor reportedly stayed up at all hours to catch Premier League games.
What is his political background?
Mamdani’s first foray into politics began during the 2016 Bernie Sanders campaign, which he credited with inspiring him to become a socialist.
His mayoral campaign reflected this socialist sentiment. As New Yorkers continue to reckon with the city’s rising living costs, Mamdani’s campaign strategically centred around affordability.
As part of his mayoral campaign, Mamdani promised to make buses free, raise minimum wage to $30 an hour, up taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers, improve rent control and offer free childcare.
As the city’s first Muslim mayor, during his campaign, Mamdani came up against islamophobia.
One such prominent case was his campaign opponent Andrew Cuomo, who claimed that Mamdani would be “cheering” if “another 9/11” happened, while speaking to conservative radio talkshow host Sid Rosenberg. Mamdani slammed his comments as “disgusting” and “racist”.
What does Trump think of Zohran Mamdani?
Despite Mamdani’s new mandate displaying watertight evidence of his support, one particularly vocal opponent is President Trump, who has made no secret of his distaste for the mayor-elect.
During his campaign, Trump accused Mamdani of being a “communist” (a claim which Mamdani has concretely denied) and explicitly voiced his support for Cuomo.
The president even went as far as threating to cut federal funding should Mamdani ascend to power – a move which can only be made by congress - and any attempt at doing so by the president would be deemed unconstitutional.
Upon hearing the news of Mamdani’s electoral success, Trump took to social media with an ominous diatribe of just four words: "…AND SO IT BEGINS!"
In his victory speech, the new mayor addressed Trump directly. He said: "In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light."
Who is Zohran Mamdani’s wife?
Perhaps the pièce de résistance of Mamdani’s campaign for his eagle-eyed supporters on social media has been his wife, who remained quietly steadfast throughout his campaign.
New York’s first lady is Rama Duwaji, the 28-year-old animator and illustrator whose Syrian roots often weave into her work, which explores Middle Eastern themes and issues. The power couple met on dating app Hinge in 2021. As the then-mayoral-hopeful added in June: "There is still hope in those dating apps."
After a glamorous engagement party in Dubai, the duo tied the knot at a simple ceremony in New York, reminiscent of their deep love for the city. During his victory speech, Mamdani honoured his “incredible wife”.
“Rama – hayati” [Arabic: my life] he said. “there is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment and in every moment."
How Zohran Mamdani’s aloof wife, Rama Duwaji, quietly steered his campaign from behind the scenes https://t.co/NFq9JxuJlV pic.twitter.com/Gv1IZxxG9h
— New York Post (@nypost) November 3, 2025
