City in Uproar — New Yorkers RAGE After Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s First Order

“We will answer to all New Yorkers, not to any billionaire or oligarch who thinks they can buy our democracy,” he said. “I was elected as a democratic socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist.”

The program for Mamdani’s inauguration featured remarks from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, both prominent democratic socialists who are leading figures within the Democratic Party’s leftist wing.

During an inaugural speech, Sanders—whom Mamdani said was his inspiration—defended the new mayor’s agenda.

“Making sure that people can live in affordable housing is not radical,” Sanders said. “It is the right and decent thing to do.”

Sanders—himself worth millions—then lapsed into a familiar refrain of calling for more taxes on “the rich,” which many in the crowd cheered.

The 34-year-old Mamdani campaigned heavily on cost-of-living issues and was sharply critical of Republican President Donald Trump, whose approval rating has steadily ticked up in recent weeks as the cost of gasoline and other common consumer goods began to decline and concerns about affordability eased somewhat.