White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt erupted online this week, slamming New York City’s brand new First Lady, Rama Duwaji, over her high-fashion footwear at her husband’s swearing-in.
The drama unfolded just a day after Zohran Mamdani, now NYC’s mayor, promised major affordability fixes for America’s largest metropolis. Leavitt zeroed in on Duwaji’s style choices—especially a stunning pair of $630 Miista boots that Duwaji had borrowed for the big moment at a deserted subway stop where Mamdani took his oath on the Quran.
Duwaji’s ensemble didn’t stop there. She rocked black knee-length shorts and topped it all off with a dark designer wool coat, reportedly all borrowed or loaned, her stylist claims. Leavitt wasn’t having it. Known for flaunting Jimmy Choos and luxury labels, the press secretary blasted the mayoral couple in a Friday Instagram tirade: “They demand New Yorkers cough up over half their paychecks to City Hall, but she struts around in boots that cost a week’s salary. Classic Communist hypocrisy—different rules for us, different rules for them. Good luck, New York.”
Mamdani’s critics have been circling ever since he toppled Trump-endorsed, ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in last year’s heated race, promising bold reforms. While Leavitt raged about “half your income” going to taxes, Mamdani has actually advocated for hitting high earners and big business with steeper rates to fund his progressive wish list. Think universal childcare for little New Yorkers ages six weeks to five years, freezing rent for two million tenants, speedy free buses, and opening city-run supermarkets to make groceries affordable.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Diwali walk out of city hall at the start of his public inauguaration Jan. 1, 2026.
Thursday’s inauguration saw Mamdani, a proud democratic socialist, double down on his left-wing plans: “I was elected on these principles, and I won’t shy away from them. We won’t always win, but nobody can say we didn’t have the guts to try,” he told supporters at the ceremony.
As the dust settles from this Instagram-fueled uproar, one thing is clear: While the city’s new first couple pushes a message of equity and shared sacrifice, their taste in fashion—and the blowback it inspires—is already making headlines. Welcome to City Hall’s new reality show.
