Camilla Jessen
NYC mayor faces backlash after wife reportedly liked posts about October 7 attack.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism after reports that his wife liked several controversial social media posts related to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
The posts, which resurfaced in recent days, have sparked debate in US media and prompted the mayor to clarify his own position.
Controversial posts
According to reports cited by Le Parisien and News.ro, the posts liked by Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, included images and messages linked to the October 7 attack.
One post reportedly featured photos of a bulldozer used by militants to breach the border into Israel.
The caption included slogans such as “Break the wall of apartheid and military occupation” and “a systemic change for a collective liberation.”
The October 7 attack by Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel, while about 250 others were taken hostage.
Disputed reporting claim
Another post that Duwaji reportedly liked questioned a New York Times report about allegations of rape and sexual violence during the attack.
The post claimed the newspaper’s coverage was based on a “fabricated mass rape ‘hoax,’” according to the reports.
Screenshots shared online also appear to show that she liked posts describing former US President Joe Biden as “Butcher Biden” and accusing him of supporting “genocide.”
Mayor responds
Mamdani addressed the controversy while speaking to reporters, stressing that his wife does not play a role in his administration.
“My wife is the love of my life and she is also a private person who has not held any official role in my campaign or in the City Hall,” he said.
“I, on the other hand, was elected to represent the eight and a half million inhabitants of this city, and I consider it my responsibility to answer questions about my ideas and positions.”
Position on Hamas
The mayor’s communications team also reiterated his stance on the October 7 attack.
In a statement, they said Mamdani “has always been clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization, October 7 was a horrific war crime, and he has unequivocally condemned this violence.”
Mamdani, 34, became New York City’s first Muslim mayor after taking office on January 1, 2026.
The former New York State Assembly member has previously spoken in support of Palestinian rights, while also facing pressure to reassure New York’s large Jewish community.
His wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian-American artist and illustrator with a large social media following, has not publicly commented on the reports.
Sources: Le Parisien, News.ro
