NYC First Lady Blames Antisemitic Posts on "Being 15" While Ignoring Recent Support for October Seventh Massacre

Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has issued a partial apology for a history of inflammatory social media posts that have ignited a political firestorm in the city. In an interview with the New York arts magazine Hyperallergic, Duwaji expressed "shame" for offensive language she used as a teenager, though she pointedly avoided addressing her support for the October Seventh massacre.

"The fact that I was fifteen does not exempt me from responsibility," she stated, referring to a series of archived tweets. "I understand the hurt I caused and I am truly sorry."

However, many point out that Duwaji was nearly twenty eight years old when she reportedly "liked" Instagram posts celebrating the Hamas led invasion of Israel. According to reports from the Washington Free Beacon, her social media activity included engagement with content that characterized the October Seventh atrocities as "breaking the walls of apartheid" and, more disturbingly, posts that dismissed documented reports of sexual violence against Israeli women as a "mass hoax."

The controversy surrounding the First Lady of New York City spans over a decade of digital activity. The investigation into her public record revealed several disturbing themes:

While Duwaji’s apology focused on her "youthful" indiscretions, she has yet to provide an explanation for her more recent interactions with content that justifies or denies the crimes committed by Hamas.

The scandal surrounding the Mayor’s inner circle deepened this week with a report from Jewish Insider regarding Donald Bornstein, the creative director behind Mamdani’s video campaigns.

Bornstein, who received over ninety thousand dollars for his services during the campaign, reportedly used his social media platforms to eulogize the late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar following his death in twenty twenty four. Bornstein described Sinwar as a man who "gave his entire life until the end in the struggle for the liberation of his people." He further mocked Israeli footage of the event, calling the imagery "full of symbolism" in a way that appeared to celebrate the terrorist leader’s final moments.

Bornstein currently serves as a creative director for the city, raising questions about the vetting process for high level municipal employees within the Mamdani administration.

The Mayor’s Defense

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has attempted to distance his administration from the actions of his wife and his staff. A spokesperson for the Mayor reiterated that Duwaji is a "private citizen" who holds no official role in the city government.

The Mayor’s office has consistently maintained that Mamdani views Hamas as a terrorist organization and considers the events of October Seventh to be "horrific war crimes."