Zohran Mamdani sworn in as NYC’s first Muslim mayor using Qurans

New Chapter for New York City: Zohran Mamdani Inaugurated as First Muslim Mayor

Update: 12:30 a.m. ET, Jan. 1, 2026:

In a historic midnight ceremony, Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as New York City’s first Muslim mayor by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the decommissioned Old City Hall Station.

Original:

New York City marked a significant milestone as Zohran Mamdani took his oath of office on Thursday, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor. In a ceremony highlighting personal heritage and cultural diversity, the 34-year-old mayor-elect chose to swear in on multiple Qurans.

Mamdani’s private ceremony involved using his grandfather’s Quran alongside one owned by Arturo Schomburg, an Afro-Latino historian, as reported by The New York Times.

State Attorney General Letitia James conducted the initial oath-taking beneath City Hall in a disused subway station.

During a public ceremony later, Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., presided over the swearing-in at City Hall, where Mamdani once again used Qurans from his grandparents, aligning with his self-description as a democratic socialist.

The choice of Schomburg’s Quran was facilitated by Hiba Abid, New York Public Library’s curator for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies. Abid noted, “It’s a highly symbolic choice because we’re about to have a Muslim mayor swearing in using the Quran but also a mayor who was born on the African continent, in Uganda. It really brings together here elements of faith, identity and New York history.”

There was some controversy over Mamdani’s use of the Quran, with criticism from figures like former U.S. Rep. David Brat, R-Va., who argued that Islam contradicts the foundational beliefs of the United States. He speculated that some leftists view Islam as an ally due to its opposition to Christianity, which they perceive as a barrier to their objectives.

On Steve Bannon’s “The War Room,” Brat expressed, “They do not like Christianity because it keeps them from their globalist ambitions and big-government ambitions. That’s what’s going on here. The Protestants believe, largely, capitalism versus Mamdani’s socialism. There’s another contrast.”

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison have also been sworn in on the Quran, with Ellison using it for his 2007 Congressional oath.

Initially, President Donald Trump dismissed Mamdani as a “communist lunatic” during the campaign, threatening federal funding cuts and the deployment of the National Guard to New York City. However, following an Oval Office meeting post-election, Trump adopted a more conciliatory tone.

Trump remarked on their discussions, “We agreed a lot more than I would have thought,” noting they talked about key issues like rent, groceries, and utilities affecting everyday New Yorkers. Mamdani expressed gratitude towards Trump for the meeting, emphasizing their mutual understanding on supporting New York City’s residents, describing the city as “a place of shared admiration and love.”