New York City’s first lady, artist Rama Duwaji, is facing a wave of scrutiny after her personal Instagram account showed multiple “likes” on posts that appeared to celebrate the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, according to recent reporting. Those public likes highlighted images and captions that cast the assault as a form of resistance and promoted anti-occupation slogans, pulling Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s family life and political stance back into the spotlight while Duwaji has remained publicly silent.
What Duwaji Liked
According to VINnews, Duwaji liked a carousel post from The Slow Factory that showed images of attackers breaching Israel’s border and included text such as “Breaking the walls of apartheid and military occupation.” VINnews also reports that some of her likes were tied to posts from The People’s Forum and demonstrations held in Times Square on Oct. 8, 2023. The Free Beacon and other outlets previously noted that The Slow Factory’s October 2023 content framed the assault as resistance, language critics argue glosses over or sanitizes the violence.
City Hall Response
City Hall declined to weigh in on Duwaji’s specific social media activity but reiterated the mayor’s public position. In a statement to reporters, officials said, “Mayor Mamdani has been clear and consistent: Hamas is a terrorist organization, Oct. 7th was a horrific war crime, and he has condemned that violence unequivocally.” 77 WABC reports that the mayor’s office refused to discuss his wife’s Instagram likes, while again stressing Mamdani’s condemnation of the attacks.
Mamdani’s Record And Reaction
Mamdani has long been a sharp critic of Israeli policy while also describing Oct. 7 as a “horrific war crime,” a combination that has repeatedly put him at odds with Jewish community leaders and political rivals, according to The Forward and JTA. That record, condemning the Hamas attack while in other statements labeling Israeli policy as apartheid or even genocidal, has helped fuel intense backing from progressive voters and fierce opposition from pro-Israel groups throughout his rise to City Hall.
Why It Matters For New Yorkers
For New Yorkers, the episode taps into larger worries about how the personal views and online behavior of public officials and their families affect civic trust and a sense of safety. It may also complicate Mamdani’s efforts to build relationships in Jewish neighborhoods that narrowly supported other candidates, as The Washington Post has reported. With fresh attention on Duwaji’s Instagram activity, the mayor’s household is once again under a microscope as City Hall navigates decisions tied to community security, public events and outreach to Jewish institutions.
