Full Breakdown
Controversy Surrounds NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Wife Over Social Media Posts
3/20/2026, 12:00:30 PM
Uncovering Past Social Media Activity
Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has come under scrutiny following reports of her past social media activity that allegedly supports Palestinian terrorism. A report by The Washington Free Beacon revealed that Duwaji, now 28, made several posts on platforms such as X and Tumblr during her teenage years and early twenties that celebrated figures associated with violence against Israelis. One notable post from 2017 featured Leila Khaled, a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), with the caption, “If it does good for my cause, I’ll be happy to accept death.” Khaled is known for her involvement in plane hijackings in the late 1960s.
In addition to praising Khaled, Duwaji's posts included imagery and statements that denigrated American soldiers and suggested that Israelis should not inhabit Tel Aviv. The Washington Free Beacon utilized facial recognition technology to link these posts to Duwaji, who has since deactivated her old accounts.
Recent Controversies and Responses
The scrutiny intensified after Duwaji reportedly liked social media posts celebrating the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in significant casualties. One post she liked described reports of sexual violence during the attack as a "mass rape hoax." Following the emergence of these posts, Mayor Mamdani defended his wife, stating, “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.”
Duwaji's past social media activity has raised concerns among some Jewish New Yorkers, particularly given Mamdani's position as the city's first Muslim mayor and his previous comments perceived as anti-Israel. A spokesman for Mamdani reiterated that the mayor has condemned Hamas as a terrorist organization and described the October 7 attack as a "horrific war crime."
Criticism and Opposition
Critics have pointed to Duwaji's social media history as indicative of extremist views, with some labeling her as an "extremist" due to her support for anti-Zionist sentiments. In 2015, she allegedly celebrated International Women's Day by posting a tribute to Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, a PFLP militant. Furthermore, her social media activity has included posts that blame "white people" for the creation of Al-Qaeda and other inflammatory statements.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While several reports detail Duwaji's controversial posts, there is a lack of independent verification regarding the full extent of her social media activity. The Times of Israel noted that it could not independently confirm the claims made by The Washington Free Beacon. Additionally, the timeline of when specific posts were made and their context remains unclear, leading to potential gaps in understanding the full narrative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If it does good for my cause, I’ll be happy to accept death.” — Rama Duwaji, in a 2017 post about Leila Khaled.
- “Mamdani said: 'My wife is the love of my life, and she is also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall.” — Zohran Mamdani, responding to questions about Duwaji's social media activity.
The controversy surrounding Rama Duwaji's past social media activity continues to unfold, raising questions about the implications for Mayor Mamdani's administration and his relationship with various communities in New York City.
