NEW YORK — A fashion detail from the swearing-in of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has gone viral, with critics focusing on a pair of boots worn by his wife and questioning the mayor’s message on affordability.
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Photos and video from the New Year’s Day inauguration circulated widely online, prompting claims that Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, was wearing luxury leather boots made by Miista, a fashion label whose boots sell for more than $600 a pair. The images quickly sparked backlash on social media, with detractors arguing the footwear clashed with Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform and his calls for rent freezes and higher taxes on the wealthy.
Several commentators used the moment to accuse the mayor of hypocrisy, saying the luxury-brand boots undercut his “everyday New Yorker” image. Others mocked the symbolism of the new mayor taking up residence in Gracie Mansion while promoting aggressive housing and equity policies.
Duwaji, an artist and animator, stood beside Mamdani as he took the oath of office just after midnight, holding the Quran used during the ceremony. Neither Mamdani nor Duwaji addressed the criticism publicly, and there has been no independent confirmation from the mayor’s office regarding the specific model or cost of the boots.
Supporters of the mayor dismissed the controversy as superficial, arguing that focusing on clothing distracts from substantive policy debates and unfairly targets a public official’s spouse.
The episode highlights the intense scrutiny facing Mamdani as his administration begins work on housing affordability, economic equity and other priorities in a deeply polarized political environment.
some komrades are more equal than other
Sponsored by Qatar
PHONY FRAUD. millionaires that want your money. Hamasss tooo
Like the guy on the news about the daycare money laundering wearing 2k$ glasses
Just looking at the picture of those boots makes my feet hurt.
Useful for killing cockoaches in corners.
Cost more than my yeshivishe car
She got it from DSW: Don’t Say Where! P.S. – Nothing I own is $600 BH.
Petty.
Had she worn something cheap, there would have been complaints of her being disrespectful.
And $600? My winter work boots are now something like $200.
$600 for fashionable boots is not crazy.
Can we dial-down the outrage machine just a little bit?
It’s going to be a long few years. Let’s save it for the real issues.
Mandami is from a wealthy family, so let them dress nicely. That should be the worst thing about them.
Mamdani worked very hard for his money and should be allowed to use it without being judged. If you want to be able to afford such things you should ALSO work hard and make money !
Did you seize on Trumps $5 billion increase is networth due to his meme coin since promising to bring down your groceries?