Zohran Mamdani, New York's mayor-elect who has described himself as 'Trump's worst nightmare', has explained why Bernie Sanders will swear him in.
Mamdani was elected to be the mayor of New York earlier this year, and has called the POTUS a 'fascist'.
His election promises included plans to implement a rent freeze, free city buses, a $30 minimum wage, among other progressive policies.
He's also known for his online presence, hosting a scavenger hunt earlier this year and a 'Mayor Is Listening' event, where he spoke with New Yorkers for 12 hours.
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As well as winning over New Yorkers, he also seems to effected a u-turn in Trump's stance, who went from calling Mamdani an '100 percent communist lunatic' to admitting: "We agree on a lot more than I would have thought."
Mamdani will become the city’s youngest mayor in more than a century at 34 years old.
He will also be the first New York mayor to be born in Africa (he was born in Uganda), and the first Muslim in the role.
On New Year’s Day, his term as mayor will officially start. Fellow democratic socialist, senator Bernie Sanders will oversee the mayor-elect’s ceremonial swearing-in at a block party, while state Attorney General Letitia James will formally swear Mamdani in at midnight when his term officially begins.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and comptroller-elect Mark Levine will join Mamdani at the swearing-in ceremony on January 1.
Sanders, who made brief unsuccessful bids for the presidency in 2016 and 2020 and is the longest serving independent member of Congress in US history, will be the one to swear in Mamdani as one of his political role models.
In a news release announcing the events, the transition noted that Sanders' ‘unapologetic progressive values inspired Zohran to run for office in the first place'.
Zohran Mamdani said in a statement: “This inauguration is a celebration of the movement we built, the mandate we won and the city we are prepared to lead. Working New Yorkers are at the heart of our agenda and we invite them to join us as we welcome this new era of politics to City Hall.
“It is an honour to be sworn in by two leaders I have admired for years: Attorney General Tish James and Senator Bernie Sanders. Attorney General James has taken on powerful interests in her defense of New Yorkers and embodied the principle of equal justice before the law.”
President Donald Trump said in a November Truth Social post: "It was a Great Honor meeting Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York City!"
The inauguration will also be available via livestream.
Topics: Zohran Mamdani, Politics
Lauren Lees