Why is Zohran Mamdani’s wife facing backlash over old social media posts?

New York City’s first lady, Rama Duwaji, has come under the lens after a series of past social media activities resurfaced.

The controversy spans posts dating back to her teenage years, interactions with content tied to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and reposts involving individuals linked to militant organisations.

The issue comes against the backdrop of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani’s own political positioning, particularly his long-standing criticism of Israel and advocacy for Palestinian rights, which has already been a polarising factor in New York City politics.

Resurfaced posts from teenage years

The controversy was amplified after reports — most notably from the Washington Free Beacon — brought attention to social media accounts believed to have been used by Duwaji between approximately 2013 and 2017.

These accounts, reportedly active on platforms such as X (previously Twitter) and Tumblr, are said to have been linked to her.

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During this period, Duwaji, who is now 28, was in her mid-teens to early twenties. Much of the content identified in these reports dates to a time when she was either living in West Asia or transitioning between educational institutions.

Born in the United States and of Syrian descent, she spent part of her early life in New Jersey before moving to Dubai with her family in 2006. She later studied at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar before transferring to its campus in Richmond, Virginia.

Among the most controversial posts highlighted was a 2013 message attributed to her account when she was 15 years old, which included a racial slur, “Helllll yeah, ni***. Super duper genius, excuse you.”

In addition to this, a number of reposts and comments were identified that sharply criticised Israel and expressed support for the Palestinian cause in highly charged language. One such repost read, “F**k Tel Aviv. Shouldn't exist in the first place. They are occupiers,”

Another reposted message stated, “show them the children locked in cages overnight, burned alive, and starved to death in Palestine. Tel Aviv.”

A post criticised international engagement with Israel, saying, “as you give Israelis an outlet to celebrate their atrocities, you're supporting a genocidal state. Bye.”

These posts were reportedly made in the context of broader online debates at the time, including reactions to features on social media platforms such as Snapchat that highlighted user-generated content from Tel Aviv, which triggered backlash from pro-Palestinian users.

Posts referencing militant figures and organisations

A part of the controversy relates to Duwaji’s interactions with content involving individuals associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), an organisation designated as a terrorist group by the United States.

One of the most widely cited examples involves an image she shared of Leila Khaled in September 2017. Khaled is known for her role in airline hijackings in 1969 and 1970 and has become a symbolic figure in certain pro-Palestinian narratives.

The post included a quote attributed to Khaled, “If it does good for my cause, I'll be happy to accept death.”

The same account also shared an image of a Bangladeshi postage stamp bearing the words,

“We salute the valiant freedom fighters of Palestine.”

In addition, posts linked to Duwaji referenced Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, another figure associated with the PFLP. One repost from March 2015, shared on International Women’s Day, read,

“shadia abu ghazaleh, first palestinian woman to fight in resistance after 1967 occupation #InternationalWomensDay,”

Ghazaleh, who was involved in militant activities and died in 1968 when an explosive device detonated prematurely, is regarded as a “martyr” in parts of Palestinian society and has been commemorated in various ways, including through institutions bearing her name.

Further posts highlighted imagery tied to the Palestinian resistance movement more broadly. For instance, one shared photograph was captioned, “Photography: 'A Palestinian demonstrator sews a Palestinian Liberation Organization flag before a protest during the first Intifada', February, 1988,”

These posts collectively contributed to criticism that Duwaji’s past online activity appeared to praise or glorify figures and movements associated with armed resistance.

Criticism of US military

Another set of resurfaced posts focused on criticism of the United States military and broader geopolitical dynamics. In one widely circulated repost from July 2015, Duwaji shared a strongly worded critique of American military actions, writing, “taps mic American soldiers fighting in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone's freedom,”

The same post continued, “They are mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians and fighting to maintain American hegemony. That is all, thank you! drops mic”

This sentiment aligned with other posts that challenged dominant narratives around global conflicts and Western military involvement.

In another instance from December 2015, a repost attributed responsibility for the creation of al-Qaeda to white individuals, stating, “You can’t blame muslims for terrorism because they didn’t construct, fund nor train Al-Qaeda, White People did that too.”

Activity related to the October 7, 2023 attacks

While much of the controversy centres on older posts, more recent activity has also drawn attention. A report earlier this month by The New York Times highlighted Duwaji’s interactions with Instagram content around the time of the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

According to Israeli authorities, the attacks resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza that, according to Gaza’s health ministry, has led to more than 70,000 Palestinian deaths.

During this period, Duwaji reportedly liked several posts expressing support for the Palestinian cause. One such post, shared by a social justice organisation, depicted a bulldozer breaching a barrier and included the caption, “Breaking the walls of apartheid and military occupation.”

Other posts she engaged with portrayed acts of resistance as a “human right” and “self-defence” in the context of occupation. Additionally, separate reports claimed that she had liked content disputing allegations of sexual violence during the Hamas attack, including a post referring to such claims as a “mass rape hoax.”

These interactions occurred before her marriage to Mamdani, which took place in early 2025, and prior to his formal entry into the mayoral race in October 2024.

How Mamdani has responded

Mamdani addressed the October 7 attack content interaction by his wife publicly.

“My wife is the love of my life and she’s also a private person who has held no formal position on my campaign or in my City Hall,” he said.

“I, however, was elected to represent all eight and a half million people in this city, and I believe that it’s my responsibility, because of that role, to answer any questions about my thoughts and my policies and my decisions.”

Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor and a self-described democratic socialist, has consistently expressed strong views on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He has described the war in Gaza as genocide and has argued against the idea of Israel as a Jewish state.

These positions became a focal point during his mayoral campaign, drawing criticism from political opponents, including former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and prompting significant spending by allied groups to challenge his stance.

The resurfacing of Duwaji’s social media activity has added to an already charged political environment. Advocacy groups and political organisations have closely monitored Mamdani’s administration, particularly in relation to issues affecting Jewish communities and US foreign policy.

The Anti-Defamation League, for instance, launched a “Mamdani Monitor” initiative following his electoral victory, citing what it described as concerns about his record on issues relevant to Jewish Americans.

With inputs from agencies