Mamdani Sworn In On Quran As Bernie Sanders Administers Oath

Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration as New York City’s new mayor is making headlines not for his policies, but for the theatrical intersection of religious symbolism and far-left politics. On January 1, the self-described Democratic socialist placed his hand on multiple Qurans, including one belonging to black activist Arturo Schomburg, as Senator Bernie Sanders gave him the oath of office. That’s right New York City’s incoming leader chose the architect of modern socialism in America to officially swear him in, discarding both tradition and any remaining pretense of moderation.

Mamdani, 34, is now the city’s first Muslim mayor and one of the few elected officials in the country to use the Quran for his swearing-in joining ranks with controversial Democrats like Ilhan Omar and Keith Ellison.

Here’s what stood out from this heavily choreographed ceremony:

• Three Qurans were used across two separate swearing-in events: his grandfather’s copy, Schomburg’s Quran, and another from a family member. Not a Bible in sight.

• Letitia James, New York’s radical Attorney General, administered the first oath just after midnight, while Bernie Sanders handled the second.

• The entire display was a glaring departure from historical precedent, where Bibles were used by past mayors regardless of party or race.

Mamdani’s campaign leaned heavily into identity politics. In an October speech, he delivered an emotional address about "Islamophobia," accusing critics like Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa of launching “racist” and “baseless” attacks. He claimed growing up in post-9/11 New York made him feel like he lived under constant suspicion further cementing his campaign narrative rooted in grievance over governance.

This wasn’t just a swearing-in; it was a declaration of ideological intent.

And let’s be clear: this isn’t about religious freedom. Americans have long supported the right of individuals to worship freely. But what we saw in this ceremony was the further normalization of radical left ideology dressed in cultural virtue-signaling. At a time when crime is soaring, the economy is lagging, and the city is plagued by illegal immigration, New Yorkers need leadership rooted in results not activism.

While Mamdani and his supporters celebrate a “breakthrough” for Muslim Americans, the reality is that voters are being sold another unqualified ideologue wrapped in identity politics and propped up by a crumbling Democratic machine.

Key Context:

• NYC’s violent crime rose over 22% in 2022 and remains well above pre-pandemic levels.

• More than 126,000 illegal migrants have flooded the city since Spring 2022, draining public resources.

• Nearly 1 in 5 NYC households now depend on food stamps, according to recent city data.

Mamdani’s inauguration is just the latest symptom of the far-left’s ongoing experiment with America’s largest cities and New York is the lab rat.

Let’s see how long it survives.

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