'Misogynistic’ claim about Zohran Mamdani's wife’s last name immediately gets shut down

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was subjected to criticism from an online troll this week, who discovered that his wife doesn't share his surname.

For those out of the loop with Mamdani's personal life, the 33-year-old Democratic socialist has been married to Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji since early 2025.

Though she has remained out of the spotlight of her husband's political campaigns, he announced back in May he and Duwaji had tied the knot three months prior.

The news was seemingly broken in response to criticism the couple have received from right-wing supporters with regards to Donald Trump's ever-looming deportation threats, being that the politician himself was also born in Uganda.

"If you take a look at Twitter today, or any day for that matter, you know how vicious politics can be," Mamdani wrote on 12 May, sharing a series of snaps from his and Duwaji's nuptials.

"I usually brush it off, whether it’s death threats or calls for me to be deported. But it’s different when it’s about those you love.

"Three months ago, I married the love of my life, Rama, at the City Clerk’s office. Now, right-wing trolls are trying to make this race—which should be about you—about her."

The politician continued at the time: "Rama isn’t just my wife, she’s an incredible artist who deserves to be known on her own terms. You can critique my views, but not my family."

Sadly, however, Mamdani's plea seems to have fallen onto deaf ears for many critics, one of whom took aim this week at the fact Duwaji opted not to take on his surname after they wed.

Taking to social media, one troll hit out: "If your wife doesn’t take your last name you shouldn’t even be allowed to own property let alone run for office lmao."

Within minutes, however, hundreds of supporters of Mamdani fled to the comments to defend the politician and his other-half.

"It’s very uncommon outside of America for a wife to take her husband’s last name," one pointed out in response.

"I for one think it’s demeaning, misogynistic, and erases her family’s identity. My mom didn’t take my dad’s, no one in my family took their husband’s last name except those who were born here.. and they get clowned for it everyday."

Another asked of the original poster: "Why are you so interested in living in the mid 1700s?"

"Arab women do not take their husband’s last name," added a third.

A fourth pointed out: "Most of Asia does not take the last name of the husband. It’s mostly a Christian thing."

Mamdani - who defeated fellow Democrat Andrew Cuomo in the recent primaries, and would become New York's first Muslim and Indian-American mayor if elected in the coming weeks - hasn't yet addressed the controversial comment.