Mamdani defends revoking IHRA antisemitism definition and NYC BDS ban amid Jewish backlash
On his first day in office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani revoked several of former Mayor Eric Adams’s post‑Sept. 26, 2024 executive orders — including the city’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a ban on city agencies boycotting Israel and an order expanding NYPD security for synagogues — prompting sharp criticism from Israeli officials and local Jewish and civil‑rights groups who warned the moves weaken protections for Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani said the revocations were a wholesale "reset" after Adams’s indictment, argued the IHRA definition "does not actually protect Jewish New Yorkers," and pledged to protect Jewish communities through other measures while reissuing orders he still supports.
📌 Key Facts
- On his first day in office (Jan. 1, 2026), Mayor Zohran Mamdani revoked all mayoral executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams on or after Sept. 26, 2024, describing the action as a "fresh start" and saying some orders he still supports would be reissued.
- Among the revoked orders were the city’s adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, an Adams order prohibiting city agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel (a city-level BDS ban), and Executive Order 61, which had provided additional NYPD security to synagogues and established protest‑free buffer zones near religious sites.
- Mamdani defended the revocations at a Brooklyn news conference and in other remarks, saying the IHRA definition "does not actually protect Jewish New Yorkers," framing the revocations as a procedural reset after Adams’ indictment and pledging his administration would "protect Jewish New Yorkers" in ways that can "actually fulfill that."
- The moves drew sharp backlash: Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the revocations "antisemitic gasoline," Israel’s Consul General in New York warned they could pose an "immediate threat" to Jewish communities, and the ADL’s New York and New Jersey chapter and other Jewish and civil‑rights organizations said they were "deeply troubled" that protections to fight antisemitism had been weakened.
- Domestic critics including Rep. Elise Stefanik and Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov condemned Mamdani’s actions and cited his past statements critical of Israel (including describing Israel as an apartheid state and accusing it of genocide in Gaza, and earlier refusal to disavow the "globalize the intifada" slogan) as reasons for concern about public safety; Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer had not publicly responded to requests for comment.
- City Hall described the revocations as part of an across‑the‑board review in which a new mayor must continue, revoke, or amend existing orders; Mamdani said the timing reflected restoring trust after Adams’ indictment rather than hostility toward Jewish New Yorkers.
- Background context: Mamdani, a 34‑year‑old self‑described Democratic socialist and New York City’s first Muslim, South Asian and African‑born mayor, was sworn in just after midnight on Jan. 1 on historic Qurans at the old City Hall subway station and held a public ceremonial inauguration later that day with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez participating.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2025, antisemitic incidents accounted for 57% of all hate crimes reported in New York City, with approximately 328 such incidents, despite Jews comprising about 10-12% of the city's population.
NYC Jews targeted in hate crimes more than all other groups combined in 2025: NYPD — The Times of Israel
New York City's Jewish population is approximately 960,000 individuals, representing about 11.5% of the city's total population of around 8.3 million, with nearly a third being Haredi Orthodox Jews who are particularly concentrated in Brooklyn.
New York City May Now Have More Muslims Than Jews — The Editors
The Muslim population in New York City is estimated at around 1 million individuals, comprising nearly 12% of the city's residents, with growth driven by immigration, higher birth rates, and conversions.
Muslims are a political and demographic force in Mamdani's New York — The Washington Post
Anti-Jewish hate crimes in New York City spiked in 2024, with more than 300 reported incidents, representing a significant increase linked to the Israel-Hamas war starting in October 2023.
Anti-Jewish hate crimes spiked last year in NYC, with more than 300 reported — New York Post
The IHRA working definition of antisemitism has been adopted by various institutions but is criticized for potentially chilling free speech, particularly criticism of Israel, as it includes examples where such criticism could be deemed antisemitic if it applies double standards.
A Bad Deal: By Adopting the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism, Universities Risk Censoring Protected Speech — Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University
📊 Analysis & Commentary (13)
The Mamdani era begins
"A cautious, center-left take arguing that Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration launches an important experiment with national implications, but his ambitious agenda will bump up against the real constraints of running New York City and will require balancing leftist principles with pragmatic compromise."
Zohran Mamdani Takes Office
"A critical City Journal commentary arguing Mamdani’s first‑day revocations and transition appointments demonstrate an ideologically driven reset that endangers communal protections and signals a troubling shift in New York governance."
Socialism Made Easy
"A critical City Journal commentary reads Mamdani’s inaugural speech and immediate revocations as the opening of an ideologically driven, socialist‑leaning administration that risks community security, alienates Jewish constituencies, and invites legal and political backlash."
Maduro and the Democratic Socialists
"The WSJ opinion critiques Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s triumphant, openly Democratic‑Socialist inaugural posture — warning that his early revocations and appointee choices (and ties to anti‑Zionist activism) invite backlash and pose risks to community security and governance."
Who We Are: Crime and Public Safety
"City Journal’s podcast episode uses the Manhattan Institute’s research lens to defend Broken Windows and robust public‑order policing, critique disparate‑impact constraints and warn that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s early policy revocations could undermine everyday safety in New York City."
Notable & Quotable: Working Families Party
"The WSJ excerpt highlights a City Journal critique that casts the Working Families Party as a 'new far‑left political machine,' citing Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory as its most striking success."
Eric Adams Just Blew His Chance to Delay Mamdani’s Rent Freeze
"The piece criticizes former Mayor Eric Adams for failing to use the end‑of‑term window to blunt Zohran Mamdani’s early policy moves—arguing Adams ‘blew’ a chance to delay a rent‑freeze and other agenda items by not taking decisive administrative or legal steps before leaving office."
Zohran’s high-risk, high-reward strategy
"The piece reads as an opinionated take that Mamdani has chosen an explicit high‑risk, high‑reward political strategy — quickly undoing Adams‑era executive orders to energize his base and define his administration — and the author argues the gamble could pay off if messaging and governance hold, but warns of sharp short‑term political, legal and security costs."
Voices of Sanity
"A City Journal opinion defending Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s early 'reset'—arguing his revocations and appointments should be viewed as pragmatic governance aimed at restoring procedural normalcy and delivering opportunity-focused policies rather than as politically reckless provocations."
The Show-Off Mayor
"A critical City Journal column arguing that Mayor Mamdani’s high‑profile revocation of Adams‑era executive orders is performative showmanship that risks public‑safety, community trust, and effective governance."
📰 Source Timeline (16)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
January 13, 2026
7:41 PM
Scoop: Trump's surprising phone pal — Zohran Mamdani
New information:
- Reveals that President Trump and Mayor Zohran Mamdani have been privately texting since they exchanged numbers during Mamdani’s November Oval Office visit.
- Reports that Mamdani called Trump to object to U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the capture of Nicolás Maduro, prompting Trump to tell the New York Times he was "surprised" and to speak of their relationship in the past tense.
- Details that Mamdani has had at least one separate discussion with Trump about building affordable housing in New York City, beyond the public Oval Office meeting.
- Indicates senior Trump officials viewed Mamdani’s Venezuela protest call as "out of line," suggesting internal irritation with the mayor.
January 02, 2026
10:40 PM
Mamdani disputes antisemitism definition amid blowback from Jewish community about Day 1 executive orders
New information:
- Mamdani publicly argued at a Friday Brooklyn news conference that the IHRA antisemitism definition 'does not actually protect Jewish New Yorkers' and said his administration will 'deliver on our commitment to protect Jewish New Yorkers in a manner that is able to actually fulfill that.'
- He framed his Day 1 orders as part of an across‑the‑board reset: he said a new mayor must either continue, revoke, or amend existing executive orders, and that he chose to continue all Adams orders issued before Adams’ indictment while revoking those afterward, which included the IHRA adoption and city BDS prohibition.
- Mamdani rejected claims that the timing showed hostility to Jewish New Yorkers, instead saying the revocations were about restoring trust after Adams’ indictment and beginning a 'new era' focused on protecting 'each and every New Yorker.'
- The ADL’s New York and New Jersey chapter, joined by other Jewish and civil‑rights organizations, issued a statement saying they are 'deeply troubled' that Mamdani 'weakened protections to fight antisemitism' on his first day in office, sharpening organized Jewish criticism of his moves.
9:06 PM
Schumer silent as Mamdani scraps antisemitism definition, synagogue security
New information:
- Article emphasizes that one of the revoked orders was Executive Order 61, which had provided additional NYPD security to synagogues in New York City.
- Reports that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office did not respond to multiple Fox News requests for comment on Mamdani’s revocations, highlighting his continued public silence on the issue.
- Reiterates and contextualizes the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s X post accusing Mamdani of immediately scrapping the IHRA antisemitism definition and lifting restrictions on boycotting Israel, framing it as his 'true face.'
- Includes fresh warning from Israel’s Consul General in New York, Ofir Akunis, that revoking these orders 'poses an immediate threat' to Jewish communities and could lead to increased violent antisemitic attacks in the city.
- Connects Mamdani’s earlier refusal to denounce the 'globalize the intifada' slogan and prior criticism from pro‑Israel advocates to his first‑day policy moves, underscoring concerns about public safety and antisemitism.
3:39 PM
Israel accuses Mamdani of pouring 'antisemitic gasoline' after he revokes Adams executive orders
New information:
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement on X accusing Mamdani of scrapping the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifting restrictions on boycotting Israel, calling it “antisemitic gasoline on an open fire.”
- Clarifies that one revoked Adams order barred New York City agencies from boycotting or divesting from Israel.
- Clarifies that another revoked Adams order had adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, including demonizing Israel or applying double standards to it as contemporary antisemitism.
- A City Hall spokesperson says Mamdani intends to reissue certain Adams executive orders he still supports, even though all post‑Sept. 26, 2024 orders were revoked wholesale for a "fresh start."
- Notes that Adams had also issued an order directing NYPD to create protest‑free buffer zones near religious sites (churches, synagogues, mosques), which was among the revoked orders.
- Includes criticism from Brooklyn City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov, who argues the IHRA definition protects Jews who believe in self‑determination and calls for enforcing existing federal law against “pro‑Hamas antisemites.”
- Reiterates domestic criticism from figures such as Rep. Elise Stefanik, who has labeled Mamdani a "jihadist communist" and "terrorist" sympathizer, and highlights his prior statements calling Israel an apartheid state and accusing it of genocide in Gaza.
- Quotes Mamdani’s campaign‑trail response that he is "not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion" when asked about Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, while noting his stated commitment to oppose antisemitism and increase funding to combat hate crimes.
2:43 AM
Photo highlights from Mamdani's 1st day in office as he vows to govern NYC "audaciously"
New information:
- Mamdani used his inauguration speech to state: 'I was elected as a Democratic socialist and I will govern as a Democratic socialist,' pledging to govern 'expansively and audaciously' and to 'govern without shame and insecurity.'
- The article specifies that Mamdani revoked executive orders issued by Eric Adams after Sept. 26, 2024, the date Adams was indicted on federal bribery and fraud charges, framing this as a 'fresh start' for the new administration.
- The piece notes that Adams’ 2024 federal charges were later successfully pushed to be dropped by the Trump administration, adding legal and political context to the rescinded EOs.
- It provides venue and ceremonial details: Letitia James conducted the official swearing-in in the former City Hall subway station using a historic Quran in the early hours of Jan. 1, while Sen. Bernie Sanders performed the ceremonial oath and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spoke at the City Hall inauguration.
- Mamdani explicitly ties his electoral mandate to his ideological identity, saying he 'will not abandon' his principles 'for fear of being deemed radical.'
1:52 AM
Hours after taking office, NYC Mayor Mamdani targets landlords, moves to intervene in private bankruptcy case
New information:
- On his first day in office, Mamdani signed multiple housing‑related executive orders, including reviving the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants to focus on resolving 311 complaints and holding 'slumlords' accountable for hazardous conditions.
- He created a 'LIFT' task force (a land inventory effort) to identify city‑owned sites suitable for housing development by no later than July 1, to be overseen by Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning Lila Joseph.
- He created a 'SPEED' task force ('Streamlining Procedures to Expedite Equitable Development') to remove permitting barriers that slow housing construction, also under Joseph’s oversight.
- Mamdani’s Executive Order No. 1 revoked all prior mayoral executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams on or after Sept. 26, 2024, unless they are specifically reissued.
- He signed a second executive order setting the overall structure of his administration, including five deputy mayor posts and their oversight responsibilities.
- The announcement took place at 85 Clarkson Ave., a rent‑stabilized Brooklyn building Mamdani says is owned by Pinnacle Realty, which he calls a 'notorious landlord' tied to a 93‑building portfolio now in a landlord bankruptcy case the city plans to try to intervene in.
- Mamdani publicly framed the city’s planned intervention in that private landlord bankruptcy as 'precedent‑setting action' aimed at protecting tenants’ ability to remain in their homes.
January 01, 2026
4:26 PM
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrates inauguration with public ceremony
New information:
- Confirms the public swearing‑in ceremony at 1 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2026 on the steps of New York City Hall, with Sen. Bernie Sanders delivering the oath of office.
- Details the "Inauguration of a New Era" block party along the Canyon of Heroes (Broadway from Liberty Street to Murray Street), with tens of thousands of attendees anticipated and music, performances and interfaith elements.
- Provides a consolidated list of key Mamdani administration appointments, including: First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan, Chief of Staff Elle Bisgaard‑Church, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore, NYC Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels, Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike (Michael) Flynn, Deputy Mayor for Housing Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Jahmila Edwards, Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Sam Levine, and Office of Management and Budget Director Sherif Soliman.
- Includes a direct quote from Mamdani at the private midnight ceremony in the Old City Hall subway station calling it “the honor and the privilege of a lifetime” and describing the site as “a testament to the importance of public transit, to the vitality, the health, and the legacy of our city.”
- Reports that Mamdani used the private ceremony to announce Michael Flynn as his Department of Transportation commissioner, highlighting Flynn’s experience and "ambitious and imaginative" approach to the city’s transportation landscape.
- Restates campaign‑style promises that Mamdani has made — to freeze rent, eliminate bus fares, and provide universal child care — as context for the inauguration coverage.
3:59 PM
WATCH LIVE: Mamdani to be ceremonially sworn in as mayor of New York City
New information:
- Confirms Mamdani’s public ceremonial swearing-in is scheduled for 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 1, 2026, with a related event and block party.
- Specifies this is a ceremonial swearing-in following a midnight oath of office taken on a centuries-old Quran in a long-closed subway station beneath City Hall.
- Reiterates that Mamdani, age 34, is the first Muslim, first South Asian and first African-born mayor of New York City, and that he emphasized his Muslim faith during the campaign by appearing frequently at mosques and mobilizing first-time South Asian and Muslim voters.
- Notes that most prior NYC mayors have used a Bible, but no religious text is required for the oath.
3:49 PM
Zohran Mamdani officially sworn in as New York City's mayor on a Quran full of symbolism
New information:
- Confirms that Mamdani’s midnight oath of office took place in the long-closed Old City Hall subway station beneath City Hall.
- Specifies that he is the first Muslim, first South Asian, and first African-born person to serve as New York City’s mayor.
- Details that two Qurans were used at the subway ceremony: his grandfather’s Quran and a late-18th/early-19th century pocket-sized Quran from the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center collection.
- Identifies Schomburg Center curator Hiba Abid as helping his wife select the historic Quran and explains its modest design and everyday-reader orientation.
- Explains the manuscript’s likely origins in the late Ottoman period in a region covering present-day Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan, and its acquisition by historian Arturo Schomburg.
- Notes that for the later City Hall ceremony on Jan. 1, Mamdani planned to use both his grandfather’s and grandmother’s Qurans, though the campaign has not released further details on those heirlooms.
10:00 AM
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
New information:
- Confirms that Mamdani will have a second, public inauguration at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day, where Sen. Bernie Sanders will administer the oath again.
- States that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will deliver opening remarks at the 1 p.m. ceremony.
- Notes that the inauguration is open to ‘all New Yorkers’ and will be followed by a large inaugural block party on Broadway along the Canyon of Heroes.
- Reiterates that Mamdani used a Quran in his swearing-in and is the first Muslim mayor of NYC and the first sworn in on a Quran, framed specifically as coming from his campaign.
- Provides additional political framing from Fox that he ran on affordability with proposals such as freezing rent and city-run grocery stores, and that he defeated Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa despite critics highlighting his past anti-Israel statements and socialist policies.
- Includes Sanders’ statement praising Mamdani as representing a new generation of progressive leadership and Mamdani’s victory-speech rhetoric about ‘toppling a political dynasty.’
5:58 AM
Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor, capping historic rise
New information:
- Confirms that Zohran Kwame Mamdani has now been sworn in as New York City's 112th mayor just after midnight on January 1, 2026, in the former City Hall subway station.
- Details that the oath was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James, a close Mamdani ally, and includes his brief remarks calling it the 'honor and privilege of a lifetime.'
- Adds that a larger public inauguration will be held later on New Year's Day with Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participating.
- Provides additional political context on Mamdani's victory over Andrew Cuomo by nearly ten points and the fact that he is New York City's first Muslim mayor and an immigrant born in Uganda to Indian-rooted parents.
- Reiterates key elements of Mamdani's policy agenda (free buses, universal child care, government-run grocery stores, rent freezes) and notes Trump's earlier attacks calling him a 'communist' as well as Trump's post-election statement that he expects to help Mamdani and wants New York City 'to be great.'
5:19 AM
Zohran Mamdani sworn in at abandoned NYC subway station, becoming city's 112th mayor
New information:
- Confirms that Zohran Mamdani has officially taken the oath of office at midnight on New Year’s Eve, becoming New York City’s 112th mayor.
- Specifies that the private swearing-in took place at the abandoned Old City Hall subway station and was administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- Clarifies that the public swearing-in will occur Thursday at 1 p.m. at City Hall with Sen. Bernie Sanders administering the oath, including a block party along the Canyon of Heroes from Liberty Street to Murray Street.
- Notes the event branding as the 'Inauguration of a New Era' and that attendees must RSVP online.
- Reports that Mamdani has already appointed five new high-ranking officials over the last two days, including new schools chancellor Kamar Samuels.
5:08 AM
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
New information:
- Confirms New York Attorney General Letitia James personally administered the private midnight oath at Old City Hall Station.
- Specifies that Mamdani used a Quran for the swearing-in, making him the first Muslim mayor of NYC and first sworn in on a Quran.
- Details Mamdani’s own quoted remarks on why Old City Hall Station was chosen, framing the subway as the 'lifeblood of New York' and a symbol of transforming working people’s lives.
- Clarifies that Sen. Bernie Sanders will administer the public 1 p.m. oath at City Hall, with opening remarks by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
- Notes that the transition team says all New Yorkers are invited to the public inauguration and block party, contrasting with the typically more limited ~4,000-ticket setup.
- Recaps that Mamdani defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in November after starting his campaign with single-digit support.
December 31, 2025
9:17 PM
Zohran Mamdani will be first mayor to be sworn in on Quran during New York City inauguration
New information:
- Campaign confirms Mamdani will be the first New York City mayor sworn in using the Quran and the first Muslim mayor of the city.
- Details that he will use two family Qurans plus one that belonged to Afro‑Puerto Rican writer and activist Arturo Schomburg.
- Clarifies that Letitia James will host a private midnight ceremony at Old City Hall Station and that Sen. Bernie Sanders will administer the public oath on the City Hall steps Thursday afternoon.
- Notes that Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa after campaigning on rent freezes, city‑run grocery stores, and free buses and childcare.
- Adds Fox’s characterization of Mamdani’s past statements on Israel/Gaza and reiterates that he has appointed Ramzi Kassem as the city’s top attorney, including brief details of Kassem’s prior clients and Mamdani’s quoted rationale for the pick.
8:54 PM
Zohran Mamdani to become NYC's next mayor with a midnight oath underground
New information:
- Confirms Mamdani will take his initial oath just after midnight at the former City Hall subway station, administered by New York Attorney General Letitia James.
- Details that the public swearing‑in on the City Hall steps will occur at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day and be administered by Sen. Bernie Sanders, with opening remarks from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez.
- States Mamdani will use Qurans for both oaths, making him the first New York City mayor sworn in on Islam’s holy text and the city’s first Muslim mayor.
- Explains the symbolic rationale from Mamdani’s office for choosing the historic City Hall subway station — to reflect a commitment to working people and an era of infrastructure investment.
- Adds that Mamdani’s inaugural committee includes cultural figures such as John Turturro, Cole Escola and Colson Whitehead, and describes the planned Broadway block party and interfaith elements.
- Notes that updated archival research indicates Mamdani appears to be the city’s 112th mayor due to a newly recognized 17th‑century mayoral term counted twice.
December 30, 2025