Mayor's Wife Criticized for Praising Militants in Old Social Media Posts

Rama Duwaji's past social media activity raises questions about her judgment and alignment with mainstream values.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:49am

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The wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced scrutiny over a series of social media posts from her teenage years and early 20s that praised violent militants and criticized U.S. military policy. The posts included praise for figures like Leila Khaled, a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who took part in plane hijackings, as well as other militants from earlier decades. Duwaji also amplified criticism of Israel and the U.S. military, sparking concerns about her judgment and what voters should expect from the mayor's inner circle.

Why it matters

As the spouse of a high-profile elected official, Duwaji's past social media activity raises questions about her personal views and alignment with mainstream values, particularly around issues of public safety, terrorism, and U.S. foreign policy. The pattern of posts praising militants and criticizing the U.S. military could be seen as insensitive to victims of terrorism and at odds with the role of a mayor's spouse.

The details

Specific examples from Duwaji's posts include a 2017 photo of Leila Khaled, a hijacker revered by militants, with the caption "If it does good for my cause, I'll be happy to accept death." Other posts praised militants like Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, who was killed in 1968 while building a bomb allegedly bound for Tel Aviv. Duwaji also amplified criticism of the U.S. military, with one post stating "American soldiers fighting in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone's freedom." She also shared posts criticizing Snapchat for adding Tel Aviv to a live story feature, calling it a celebration of "a genocidal state."

  • In September 2017, Duwaji posted a photo of Leila Khaled, a hijacker revered by militants.
  • In March 2015, Duwaji reposted content praising Shadia Abu Ghazaleh, a militant killed in 1968 while building a bomb.
  • On the day of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, Duwaji liked an Instagram post showing footage from the attack, which left 1,200 Israelis dead.

The players

Rama Duwaji

The wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has faced scrutiny over her past social media posts praising violent militants and criticizing the U.S. military.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, whose wife's past social media activity has raised concerns about her judgment and alignment with mainstream values.

Leila Khaled

A longtime leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who took part in plane hijackings in 1969 and 1970, and who Duwaji praised in a social media post.

Shadia Abu Ghazaleh

A militant who was killed in 1968 while building a bomb allegedly bound for Tel Aviv, and who Duwaji praised in a social media post.

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What they’re saying

“If it does good for my cause, I'll be happy to accept death.”

— Rama Duwaji

“American soldiers fighting in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone's freedom. They are mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians and fighting to maintain American hegemony.”

— Rama Duwaji

What’s next

The mayor's office has not yet commented on the controversy surrounding Duwaji's past social media posts. It remains to be seen whether this issue will have any impact on the mayor's political standing or his wife's role in the administration.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of public figures, even those in the mayor's inner circle, being held accountable for their past statements and actions, particularly when they involve the glorification of violence or the demonization of U.S. military personnel. Voters have a right to expect that those close to elected officials will uphold mainstream values and exercise sound judgment.