Liked posts on Oct. 7 draw sharp criticism; mayor defends wife as political pressure mounts
NYC First Lady’s Oct. 7 Social Media Activity Ignites Controversy
New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji, wife of Mayor Zohran Mamdani, became the subject of intense national scrutiny in early March 2026 after a detailed report published by Jewish Insider revealed that she had liked multiple social media posts in October 2023 — during and just after Hamas’s devastating attack on Israel on October 7 — that characterized the assault in sympathetic or favorable terms. The report, published March 6, ignited criticism from Jewish organizations, Republican politicians, and some Democrats, while progressives and allies of the mayor pushed back sharply against what they described as unfair and politically motivated coverage. The controversy surfaced at a particularly charged moment: less than 48 hours after the report’s publication, improvised explosive devices were thrown outside Gracie Mansion during an Islamophobic rally, underscoring the volatile political environment surrounding the city’s first Muslim mayor and his family.
What the Posts Said
According to reporting by Jewish Insider, subsequently confirmed by NBC New York, Duwaji liked a post on Instagram on October 8, 2023 — the day after the Hamas attack — that described the assault as “resistance” against Israeli occupation. The post characterized Gaza’s population as “isolated and segregated, intentionally kept in poverty” and framed Hamas’s actions as “breaking the walls of apartheid,” saying that if Israeli forces retaliated “against this resistance,” it would be Gaza’s civilian population who would be punished. Roughly 35,000 other accounts liked the same post. Separately, according to Jewish Insider and Fox News, Duwaji also liked a post that characterized an investigation into sexual violence committed on October 7 as a “hoax.” That specific claim drew some of the sharpest condemnations from critics. It is worth noting that documentation of sexual violence on October 7 has been the subject of extensive, and in some cases competing, journalistic and investigative reporting. The UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict has documented findings from the day. Readers are encouraged to consult primary sources. Duwaji liked the posts approximately a year and a half before she married Mamdani.
Mayor Mamdani’s Response
Mayor Mamdani addressed the controversy briefly when asked by reporters on March 6. He did not directly disavow each post, but stated that neither he nor his wife condones Hamas’s attack on October 7 and argued that the reporting was being used to distort her views. Mamdani has consistently condemned the October 7 attacks throughout his campaign and his mayoralty while also criticizing Israel’s military operations in Gaza as disproportionate. Progressive allies argued that the controversy was a deliberate political attack designed to damage a mayor whose foreign policy views — though critical of Israeli government policy — are well within the mainstream of left-leaning American opinion.
Critics and Supporters
Jewish community organizations and Republican leaders issued swift condemnations, calling for Mamdani to issue a stronger public repudiation of the posts. Some Democrats joined in. The Free Press, which focuses on criticism of progressive politics, ran a piece centered on the “hoax” characterization, generating substantial circulation among conservative commentators. On the left, advocacy groups pushed back, noting that a social media “like” from 2023 is an imperfect and reductive lens through which to judge anyone, and arguing that the posts contained legitimate political commentary about Palestinian conditions alongside statements about the attack itself.
Context and Continuing Debate
The controversy reflects deeper and unresolved tensions in American public life over how to discuss October 7, the war in Gaza, and Palestinian rights without either minimizing the horror of Hamas’s attack or suppressing legitimate advocacy on behalf of Palestinian civilians. These are questions the Mamdani Post will continue to cover with fairness to all parties. Jewish Insider’s original reporting on the social media posts is available for readers to review and assess independently. The Anti-Defamation League maintains resources that distinguish between criticism of Israeli policy and antisemitic expression. The Mamdani administration has not released a formal written statement on the controversy beyond the mayor’s brief verbal response to reporters.
