From boots to Bernie: Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration served up many viral moments
New York City kicked off the new year with a new mayor in democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, whose inauguration flooded the internet with viral moments.
Mamdani took the oath of office via two separate swearing-in ceremonies. The more intimate one took place underground at midnight at a decommissioned City Hall subway station. With just a few hours as mayor under his belt, Mamdani was then sworn in for a second time by fellow democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.
Mamdani first reached internet stardom during his mayoral campaign, thanks in part 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 figure’s inauguration has taken over social media. We’ve rounded up some of the historic event’s most viral moments.
OG progressive stars spotted
While U.S. Sen. Sanders (I-VT) swore in Mamdani, he wasn’t the only popular left-wing political figure to take the stage.
U.S. Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)—who’s also garnered victories and popularity due to progressive pledges and an astute social media campaign—introduced the new mayor before his swearing-in.
In a video of AOC’s speech that has over 1.9 million views, users were divided in the comments, with many sending their best wishes to the new mayor while others expressed concern.
“As a Texan, I’m so jealous of NY,” one user commented, while another posted “God help NYC.”
Others showed excitement over Sanders and Mamdani sharing a stage, with one TikTok user posting a video of the pair hugging during the event. “A once-in-a-lifetime moment: watching Bernie Sanders swear in Zohran Mamdani as mayor of NYC,” the video said, with a caption reading “R u kidding me. Best day ever.”
A headline-grabbing fashion moment
Political figures were not the only ones to catch the public’s attention. Artist Rama Duwaji, Mamdani’s wife and now the first lady of New York City, gained attention over her footwear.
The New York Post took offense to the first lady’s apparent $630 dollar Miista boots, calling the choice a luxury and more “socialite than socialist.”
However, many users have taken social media to defend Duwaji’s choice.
“[You] know there’s nothing bad to report when you’re talking about his wife’s boots already,” one user responded via X.
“$630 for a shoe at a NYC mayoral signing is not a flex” another user said, adding that “anything less would be disrespect to the city.”
Another user pointed out that displays of wealth are routine in MAGA culture, calling out the hypocritical stance against Duwaji.
“I must have missed the $50,000 watch or $30,000 bracelets I see on MAGA women like Kristi Noem,” a user shared on X.
Popular Instagram page Diet Prada also commented on the issue, linking to past coverage on Melania Trump’s $100,000 shoe collection.
And others are even catapulting Duwaji to it-girl fashion status, particularly following a recent artistic cover for The Cut.
“Instead of functioning as a political accessory to her husband, Rama has 100% retained her identity,” freelance creative director Elysia Berman said on TikTok. “This is a win for weird art school girls.”
“Somewhere Over The Rainbow”
In another emotive moment, American actor and singer Mandy Patinkin gave a performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” alongside young students from Staten Island’s P.S. 22.
“A Jewish man singing at a Muslim man’s inauguration has me all teary-eyed,” one user commented on a video of the performance posted on TikTok.
Many users shared a similar hopeful message, with one posting to X: “Mandy Patinkin singing ‘Over the Rainbow’ with these kids is so beautiful and hopeful. I’m in tears.”
In the words of Jadakiss
In yet another pop-culture moment, Mamdani’s speech included a quote from New York rapper Jadakiss.
“Throughout it all, we will—in the words of Jason Terrance Phillips, better known as Jadakiss, or J to the Muah—be outside,” the mayor said.
Both fans of the mayor and the rapper alike took to social media to express their surprise and excitement over the reference. One user posted on X: “Mamdani quoting Jadakiss in his inauguration speech is why he’s my mayor.”
Another user on TikTok believes the new mayor, who is notorious for his pop-culture fluency, will continue to reference rappers in the future. “Mark my words,” the user said on TikTok. “He’s going to do it again, and whichever historians or internet historians are out there, y’all stay on deck. Documentation starts today.”