NEWYORK: Democrats’ Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani becomes the mayor of New York City as he takes the oath of office at an historic, decommissioned subway station in Manhattan.
Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city, placing his hand on a Quran as he took his oath.
Mamdani’s private swearing-in to start his four-year term was performed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who successfully prosecuted Trump for fraud.
The ceremony took place at Old City Hall Station, one of the city’s first subway stations built in 1904.
Standing on the steps of the station, Mamdani took his oath of office on a Holy Quran held by his wife, Rama Duwaji.
The Old City Hall station was the site of the first-ever subway ride and was decommissioned in 1945.
A larger, ceremonial inauguration is scheduled later Thursday with speeches from left-wing allies Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Around 4,000 ticketed guests are expected to attend the event outside City Hall.
Mamdani’s team has also organised a block party that it says will enable tens of thousands of people to watch the ceremony at streetside viewing areas along Broadway.
Prior to becoming Mayor, he represented the 36th New York State Assembly District and its neighborhoods of Astoria, Ditmars-Steinway, and Astoria Heights.
