Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Zohran Mamdani, the New York City's first Muslim and Asian American Mayor of New York City, is known to hit the headlines more often than not.
He has done so once again, this time with a reportedly controversial act. Some clips from his inaugural event have become viral on social media, in which the 34-year-old can be allegedly seen briefly extending his right arm and waving to the crowd. He can be seen smiling and apparently expressing gratitude to the crowd, placing his right hand on his chest before waving.
Some supporters of MAGA (Make America Great Again) have claimed that the gesture that Mamdani showed looked like a Nazi salute. Some people even compared it with billionaire Elon Musk's gesture during an inauguration rally for President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025.
While the New York Mayor's office has not reportedly commented on the issue, many online users have defended Mamdani. They have refuted claims that he showed the Nazi salute, calling those allegations misleading and politically motivated. Several netizens pointed out that the movement took place when Mamdani was addressing the crowd and was emphasizing something.
Amid the fight between pro-MAGA and pro-Mamdani supporters over the issue, Grok, X's AI assistant, was invoked by some netizens to decipher the gesture. Grok too described Mamdani's gesture as "enthusiasm" and reportedly wrote, "The gesture in the video from Mayor Mamdani's inauguration seems to be a raised fist for emphasis, common in speeches for solidarity or enthusiasm. It's not a traditional Nazi salute (straight arm, palm down). Similar arm waves have fuelled past debates, like with Elon Musk in 2025. Multiple news outlets report no such intent in his address."
Mamdani, in his inaugural speech as the Mayor, said, "Thank you to my parents, Mama and Baba, for raising me, for teaching me how to be in this world, and for having brought me to this city. Thank you to my family, from Kampala to Delhi. And thank you to my wife, Rama, for being my best friend and for always showing me the beauty in everyday things."
