"An immigrant born in Uganda to parents with roots in India, Mamdani's political triumph in 2025 came at a time when President Trump and his top advisors were rapidly reshaping U.S. policy to sharply limit immigration, especially for Muslims and people from African countries. Mamdani's critics, including Trump but also many leaders in the Democratic Party, also raised concerns about his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America as well as his frequent criticism of Israel and the war in Gaza."
"Trump falsely described Mamdani as a "communist" and said his growing influence was "a disaster waiting to happen. We can't have a communist in charge of a great, supposedly free enterprise kind of a representative city," he said. Those attacks didn't slow Mamdani's march to victory. In the general election, he defeated Andrew Cuomo, once a Democratic Party titan, by nearly ten points."
Mamdani was sworn in just after midnight in a modest ceremony held in a historic subway station under City Hall. The oath was administered by New York state Attorney General Letitia James. A larger public ceremony will be held later on New Year's Day on the steps of City Hall with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez expected to take part. Mamdani was born in Uganda to parents with roots in India. His rapid 2025 rise moved him from a marginal backbench state lawmaker to mayor of the nation's largest city. He defeated Andrew Cuomo by nearly ten points and campaigned on affordability. Critics, including President Trump and some Democratic leaders, raised concerns about his Democratic Socialists of America membership and his criticism of Israel and the war in Gaza.
Read at www.npr.org
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