Mamdani Defends Wife After She ‘Liked’ Post About Hamas Attacks On Israel
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pushed back Friday after reports surfaced about his wife’s social media activity following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack against Israel, arguing that her personal views should not be tied to his leadership of the nation’s largest city.
Speaking during a press conference, Mamdani responded to questions about Instagram posts that his wife, Rama Duwaji, had liked shortly after the Hamas-led assault that left roughly 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 people taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
The social media activity was first highlighted in a report referenced by The New York Times.
Mayor Defends Wife as “Private Person”
Mamdani emphasized that Duwaji does not hold any role in his administration or political operation.
“My wife is the love of my life and she’s also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall,” Mamdani said.
“I, however, was elected to represent all eight and a half million people in this city, and I believe that it’s my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions.”
The mayor also noted that the posts were liked before the couple married. Mamdani and Duwaji wed in early 2025, while he did not officially enter the Democratic mayoral primary until October 2024.
Posts Highlighted in Report
Among the posts Duwaji reportedly liked was one shared by The Slow Factory that included an image of a bulldozer appearing to breach the border barrier between Israel and Gaza. The post’s caption read, “Breaking the walls of apartheid and military occupation,” alongside the date of the October 7 attack.
Another post reportedly showed individuals celebrating on what appeared to be an Israeli military vehicle with the phrase “Free Palestine.”
Additional posts cited in the report described armed resistance as an act of “self defense” and a “human right” for people living under occupation.
Duwaji, who is of Syrian descent, did not respond to requests for comment. A City Hall spokeswoman also declined to comment on the matter.
Longstanding Debate Over Mamdani’s Views
Mamdani — the city’s first Muslim mayor and a self-described democratic socialist — has long been outspoken on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He has frequently criticized Israeli government policies toward Palestinians and has referred to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide. Mamdani has also stated that he does not believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state.
Those views became a major flashpoint during last year’s mayoral race.
Former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani’s chief rival, and a super PAC supporting Cuomo spent millions on advertising that suggested Mamdani’s positions were antisemitic.
Supporters of the mayor, however, argue his stance has consistently emphasized peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Sophie Ellman Golan said Mamdani has been clear about his position.
“He has been really outspoken in calling for a cease-fire and freedom and safety for Palestinians and Israelis alike,” Ellman Golan said.
She added that Mamdani has also publicly mourned victims of the October 7 attack while acknowledging the large number of Palestinian deaths during the war in Gaza.
Watchdog Group Monitoring Administration
Following Mamdani’s election victory, the watchdog organization Anti-Defamation League launched a website called the Mamdani Monitor, which tracks policies and actions by his administration that it says could raise concerns about antisemitism.
An ADL spokesman declined to comment on the mayor’s wife’s social media activity.
The issue highlights how tensions surrounding the Israel–Hamas war continue to shape political debates in the United States, particularly in cities like New York with large Jewish and Muslim communities.