Bernie Sanders drops his iconic mittens as he swears in Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Senator Bernie Sanders administered the ceremonial oath of office to newly elected New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday, January 1, but did so without wearing the now-famous mittens that made him a viral sensation in 2021.
The image of Sanders in handmade mittens became one of the most widely shared moments from former President Joe Biden’s inauguration, but at Mamdani’s swearing-in ceremony, Sanders appeared bundled in standard winter gloves, a blue beanie and a green puffy coat.
Mamdani, who has described himself as a 'democratic socialist,' took the oath during a public ceremony outside City Hall.
Before the official oath, Sanders delivered remarks praising Mamdani’s campaign and framing his election as a rejection of establishment politics.
Bernie Sanders praises Zohran Mamdani’s agenda in remarks before oath
In his pre-oath address, Sanders drew attention to Mamdani’s platform and supporters, saying his victory represented a stand against entrenched political institutions.
Sanders told the crowd that volunteers “took on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the president of the United States and some enormously wealthy oligarchs,” highlighting the grassroots energy he said propelled Mamdani’s campaign.
Sanders also defended several proposals championed by Mamdani that critics have called 'radical' or 'communistic,' arguing that policies such as affordable housing, free childcare, fare-free public buses and higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers 'are not radical' in the context of a wealthy nation.
His remarks set a tone of solidarity between the Vermont senator and the new mayor as they stood together ahead of the formal oath.
The ceremony drew chants of 'Zohran' from the crowd gathered outside City Hall shortly after Sanders formally administered the oath around 2:40 p.m.
The making of a meme
Sanders’ appearance without his famous mittens marked a visual departure from the look that made him a pop-culture meme in 2021.
According to a 2022 Vermont Edition interview, the wool-and-fleece mittens crafted by Vermont schoolteacher Jen Ellis sparked a viral phenomenon that resulted in approximately $2 million donated to Vermont charities.
At Mamdani’s inauguration ceremony, Sanders blended into the formal winter setting with standard gloves, leaving behind the mittens that once captured global attention.
During parts of the event, Sanders was seen sitting among the crowd during a performance of the song 'Bread and Roses,' by Lucy Dacus.
Zohran Mamdani’s vision and inauguration highlights
Mamdani has positioned himself as a democratic socialist, and his policy goals include freezing rents for stabilized apartments, expanding childcare access, offering free public transportation and increasing taxes on the wealthy to fund social programs.
He has promised an 'expansive and audacious' approach to governance, appealing to voters seeking significant change in the nation’s largest city.
The inauguration included notable political figures alongside Sanders, such as New York Attorney General Letitia James and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, highlighting the national attention on Mamdani’s rise to the mayoralty.
In stepping into his new role, Mamdani stands at a crossroads of progressive ambition and practical governance challenges, with supporters hopeful his bold platform can take shape under a citywide mandate for change.
