New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed political scrutiny after reports surfaced about social media activity by his wife that critics say referenced or appeared to celebrate the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel. The controversy has fueled debate online and sparked criticism from political opponents, while also raising questions about how the issue has been covered by national media outlets.
According to reporting originally published by Jewish Insider and later highlighted by Fox News, Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, liked several Instagram posts shortly after the October 7 attacks that were critical of Israel or supportive of the Palestinian cause. One of the posts reportedly included video footage from the attack along with language describing the events as resistance against occupation.
The October 7 attacks, carried out by Hamas militants, resulted in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of hundreds more, making it one of the deadliest events in the region’s recent history.
Additional reporting indicated that Duwaji also liked a February 2024 Instagram post questioning a New York Times investigation into allegations of sexual violence during the attacks. The claims about her activity quickly spread across social media, where critics accused the mayor’s family of endorsing or minimizing the violence.
The controversy triggered strong reactions among conservative commentators and pro-Israel voices online, many of whom demanded explanations from the mayor.
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. / Imagn
However, the level of coverage from mainstream news organizations has varied. Some outlets emphasized that the social media interactions occurred before Mamdani and Duwaji were married in early 2025, and noted that thousands of other users also interacted with some of the same posts.
For example, coverage from NBC 4 New York highlighted that the posts were liked more than a year before the couple’s marriage. Meanwhile, The New York Times framed the issue around questions of whether the actions of a public official’s spouse should be subject to widespread political scrutiny.
During a recent statement, Mamdani addressed the situation but did not dispute that the posts had been liked. Instead, he emphasized that his wife does not hold a political role in his administration.
“My wife is the love of my life, and she’s also a private person who has held no formal position in my campaign or in City Hall,” Mamdani said in remarks cited by multiple outlets.
A spokesperson for City Hall also reiterated the mayor’s stance on the conflict, stating that Mamdani has consistently condemned Hamas and the October 7 attack, describing it as a horrific act of violence.
Supporters of the mayor argue the issue is being politicized, while critics say the social media activity raises legitimate questions.
The debate highlights how personal social media activity connected to public figures’ families can quickly become part of broader political battles, especially in the highly charged environment surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
As the discussion continues online and in political circles, the controversy illustrates how even past digital interactions can resurface and spark national attention.
