First Lady Social Media Controversy
Washington Free Beacon surfaced old social media posts by Rama Duwaji (Mamdani's wife) from her teenage years, including use of racial slurs, anti-gay language, and posts praising Palestinian militants. Duwaji apologized April 16: "being 15 doesn't excuse it." Mamdani defended her as "someone of incredible integrity." Critics say it echoes the Almonte Da Costa vetting failure. UPDATE May 5-6: The story revived after Miss Israel Melanie Shiraz, 27, recounted a tense Manhattan cafe encounter — friendly turning frosty once Shiraz identified herself, with Shiraz challenging Duwaji's prior posts and pitching "productive dialogue." Lands the same day Mamdani condemned the West Bank real estate expo at Park East Synagogue, compounding the Israel-related news cycle.
Duwaji acknowledged her teenage posts were wrong and issued a clear apology — holding public officials' spouses responsible for decade-old teenage mistakes sets a troubling precedent.
The posts — including racial slurs and praise of Palestinian militants — reflect a pattern of inadequate vetting in the administration, echoing the earlier Almonte Da Costa scandal.