Full Breakdown
Controversy Surrounds NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Wife Over Resurfaced Social Media Posts
3/20/2026, 9:46:46 PM
Uncovering Past Posts
Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is facing scrutiny following reports of her past social media activity that allegedly celebrated Palestinian terrorists. The Washington Free Beacon revealed that Duwaji, now 28, made several posts on platforms such as Tumblr and X (formerly Twitter) during her late teenage years and early twenties, which included praising members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and other controversial statements. Notably, she shared a photo of Leila Khaled, a notorious Palestinian plane hijacker, with the caption, “If it does good for my cause, I’ll be happy to accept death.” Khaled is recognized for her involvement in two plane hijackings in 1969 and 1970.
Content of the Posts
The resurfaced posts also included imagery and messages that denigrated American soldiers and made inflammatory claims about white people being responsible for the creation of Al-Qaeda. For instance, one post stated, “You can’t blame Muslims for terrorism because they didn’t construct, fund, or train Al-Qaeda; white people did that too.” Additionally, Duwaji reportedly expressed sentiments that Tel Aviv “shouldn’t exist” and shared a tribute to Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, a PFLP militant leader.
Recent Controversies
The timing of these revelations is significant, as they follow Duwaji's recent social media activity, which included liking posts that celebrated the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. Reports indicated that she supported protests against Israel shortly after the attack and dismissed allegations of sexual violence during the incident as a hoax. This has led to increased scrutiny of her social media presence and its implications for Mayor Mamdani's administration.
Official Responses
In response to the controversy, 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.” He emphasized that she should not face scrutiny for her past social media activity. A spokesperson for the mayor reiterated his condemnation of Hamas as a terrorist organization and described the October 7 attack as a “horrific war crime.”
Criticism and Opposition
Critics have expressed concern over Duwaji's past statements and their potential impact on Mamdani's leadership. The inflammatory nature of her posts has raised questions about the administration's stance on Israel and the broader implications for Jewish communities in New York City. Some have noted that Mamdani's previous comments, including phrases like “globalize the intifada,” have already led to skepticism among Jewish New Yorkers regarding his support for the Palestinian cause.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the Washington Free Beacon linked the posts to Duwaji using facial recognition technology, the Times of Israel noted that it could not independently verify these claims. This discrepancy highlights the need for further investigation into the authenticity of the posts and their context.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If it does good for my cause, I’ll be happy to accept death.” — Rama Duwaji, in a post about Leila Khaled.
- “You can’t blame muslims for terrorism because they didn’t construct, fund nor train Al-Qaeda,” — Rama Duwaji, in a Tumblr post.
- “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.
