New York Metropolis kicked off the brand new 12 months with a brand new mayor in Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani, whose inauguration flooded the internet with viral moments.
Mamdani took the oath of workplace through two separate swearing in ceremonies. The extra intimate one happened underground at midnight at a decommissioned Metropolis Corridor subway station. With only a few hours as mayor below his belt, Mamdani was then sworn in for a second time by fellow Democratic Socialist Bernie Sanders.
Mamdani first reached web stardom throughout his mayoral marketing campaign thanks partly to his campaign’s design and witty social media content, prompting a landslide victory and the highest mayoral race voter turnout in half a century.
Unsurprisingly, the viral political determine’s inauguration has taken over social media. We’ve rounded up a number of the historic occasion’s most viral moments.
OG progressive stars noticed
Whereas Sanders swore in Mamdani, he wasn’t the one well-liked left-wing political determine to take the stage.
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—who additionally garnered a victory and recognition as a consequence of progressive pledges and an astute social media marketing campaign—launched the brand new mayor earlier than his swearing in.
In a video of AOC’s speech with over 1.9 million views, customers had been divided within the feedback, with many sending their greatest needs to the brand new mayor, whereas others expressed concern.
“As a Texan, I’m so jealous of NY,” one consumer commented, whereas one other posted “God assist NYC.”
Others confirmed pleasure over Sanders and Mamdani sharing a stage, with one TikTok consumer posting a video of the pair hugging in the course of the occasion.
“A as soon as in a lifetime second: watching Bernie Sanders swear in Zohran Mamdani as mayor of NYC,” the video stated with a caption studying “R u kidding me greatest day ever.”
A headline-grabbing vogue second
Political figures weren’t the one ones to catch the general public’s consideration. Artist Rama Duwaji, Mamdani’s spouse and now the primary girl of New York, gained consideration over her footwear.
The New York Put up took offense to the primary girl’s obvious $630 greenback Miista boots, calling the selection a luxurious and extra “socialite than socialist.”
Nevertheless, many customers have taken social media to defend Duwaji’s selection.
“[You] know there’s nothing unhealthy to report while you’re speaking about his spouse’s boots already,” one consumer responded through X.
“$630 for a shoe at a NYC mayoral signing just isn’t a flex” one other consumer stated, including that “something much less can be disrespect to town.”
One other consumer identified that shows of wealth are routine in MAGA tradition, calling out the hypocritical stance towards Duwaji.
“I will need to have missed the $50,000 watch or $30,000 bracelets I see on MAGA girls like Kristi Noem,” a consumer shared to X.
Common Instagram web page Diet Prada also commented on the problem, linking to previous protection on Melania Trump’s $100,000 shoe assortment.
And others are even catapulting Duwaji to it-girl vogue standing, notably following a recent artistic cover for The Minimize.
“As an alternative of functioning as a political accent to her husband Rama has 100% retained he id,” artistic director Elysia Berman said on TikTok. “This can be a win for bizarre artwork college ladies.”
Someplace Over The Rainbow
In one other emotive second, American actor and singer Mandy Patinkin gave a efficiency of “Someplace Over The Rainbow” alongside younger college students from Staten Island’s P.S. 22.
“A jewish man singing at a Muslim man’s inauguration has me all teary eyed,” one consumer commented on a video of the efficiency posted on TikTok.
Many customers shared the same hopeful message, with one posting to X, “Mandy Patinkin singing Over The Rainbow with these youngsters is so stunning and hopeful I’m in tears.”
Within the phrases of Jadakiss
In one more pop-culture second, Mamdani’s speech included a quote from New York rapper Jadakiss.
“All through all of it, we are going to—within the phrases of Jason Terrance Phillips, higher referred to as Jadakiss or J to the Muah—be exterior,” the mayor stated.
Each followers of the mayor and the rapper alike took over social media to precise their shock and pleasure over the reference.
One consumer posted on X, “Mamdani quoting jadakiss in his inauguration speech is why he’s my mayor.”
One other consumer on TikTok believes the brand new mayor, who’s infamous for his pop-culture fluency, will proceed to reference rappers sooner or later.
“Mark my phrases,” the user said on TikTok. “He’s going to do it once more and whichever historians or web historians are on the market, y’all keep on deck. Documentation begins at present.”

