Published on January 1, 2026
Zohran Mamdani was sworn as mayor of New York City shortly after midnight in a historic ceremony at a disused Manhattan subway station.
Mamdani made history as the first Muslim to lead the largest city in the United States by taking his oath by placing his hand on a Koran.
“This is truly the honor and privilege of my life,” Mamdani said in a short speech.
The private ceremony led by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the architecturally stunning old City Hall station – one of the city’s original subway stations known for its vaulted ceilings – marked the official transfer of power.
In his inaugural speech, Mamdani highlighted the venue as “testament to the importance of public transport to the vitality, health and heritage of our city” and announced Mike Flynn as his new Department of Transportation Commissioner.
The mayor ended his short speech by saying, “Thank you everyone, see you later,” before climbing the stairs with a smile.
A more elaborate public unveiling will take place at 1:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT) at City Hall. Afterwards there will be a public celebration in the “Canyon of Heroes” on Broadway, known for its ticker parades.
As Mamdani assumes one of the most demanding political positions in the United States, he is breaking several barriers. At 34, he will become the city’s youngest mayor in generations and the first of Muslim faith, South Asian descent and African descent.
