Political wife’s scowling face says it all as NYC inaugurates its new socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani… and his scandal-plagued predecessor didn’t look too impressed either
A top Democrat lawmaker’s wife appeared unable to hide her disdain as New York City swore in its new socialist mayor, who has vowed to enact hardline policies.
Iris Weinshall, 72, appeared to scowl while Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated in Bryant Park on Thursday afternoon.
Weinshall, wife of New York Senator Chuck Schumer, was sitting next to Eric Adams, who served as the mayor of NYC until yesterday.
Weinshall, Schumer and Adams all share the same political party as Mamdani, but Schumer and Adams have been outspoken on the new man’s views on Israel.
Mamdani is staunchly pro-Palestine and has vowed to have Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrested the next time he visits New York City.
Weinshall, who is the chief operating officer for the New York Public Library and her husband, Schumer, refused to endorse Mamdani in the mayoral race and declined to say who he voted for.
Mamdani insists he is not anti-Semitic but has drawn fire for refusing to condemn the pro-Palestinian phrase ‘Globalize the Intifada’, which Jews say is a call to violence against members of their religion.
Meanwhile, progressive Democrats including Bronx Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders beamed from ear-to-ear as Mamdani spoke, from the row in front of Weinshall and Schumer.
Iris Weinshall, third from left in middle row, was unable to hide her apparent distaste as Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the new Mayor of New York City on Thursday. Her husband, Senator Chuck Schumer sits to her right, while former Mayor Eric Adams looked equally unimpressed to her left
Another image from a CNN broadcast showed Weinshall scowling next to a sullen-looking Eric Adams, while NY Governor Kathy Hochul, AG Letitia James, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders all beamed a row below them
Zohran Mamdani and wife Rama Duwaji are pictured at Thursday’s inauguration
Mamdani said during Thursday’s speech that he’d prove naysayers who insist that left-wing politicians can’t govern effectively wrong.
He said: ‘I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.
‘This is a government of New York, by New York, and for New York.’
He reached out to voters who backed Donald Trump in the presidential election and him in the mayoral election, saying he understood that the rocketing cost of living was their primary concern.
Mamdani has promised to offer free daycare and free buses across the city.
He also plans to enact a millionaire tax, with critics warning that his policies could drive out the super-rich, whose taxes disproportionately fund public services in the Big Apple.
Mamdani, 34, is New York City’s first Muslim mayor and one of the youngest men ever to occupy the position. His wife, Rama Duwaji, 28, is the city’s youngest ever first lady.
Duwaji has kept a low profile during Mamdani’s campaign but showed her support during his inauguration, walking side-by-side with her husband and tearing up while he spoke.
Mamdani struck a more positive tone at his inauguration than in his fiery acceptance speech in November.
The democratic socialist didn’t mince words when beating his opponent, former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, telling his supporters on election night that it would be the last time he’d utter the man’s name.
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