NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Faces 'Nazi Salute' Controversy After Swearing-In

• Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City's 112th Mayor on January 1, becoming the first South Asian and Muslim to hold the office.
• A viral clip from his private swearing-in ceremony showed him making a hand gesture, which MAGA supporters claimed resembled a 'Nazi salute'.
• The gesture sparked a social media debate, with critics demanding his cancellation and comparing it to a similar action by Elon Musk in 2025.
• Mamdani's supporters defended the gesture as a common way to emphasize a point, denying any extremist intent.
• Mamdani, of Indian descent, is the son of filmmaker Mira Nair and professor Mahmood Mamdani, and became a US citizen in 2018.

Why It Matters: NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani's swearing-in gesture sparks 'Nazi salute' controversy on social media.