Fact Check: Did Mamdani agree to refund Taylor Swift's Maddison Square Garden wedding?
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Following the much-anticipated wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, a rumor began circulating on social media claiming that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani had agreed to refund the cost of the couple's Madison Square Garden wedding, fueling widespread speculation.
The claim quickly gained traction online, with users debating whether the mayor had made such a promise. Here's a closer look at the viral post and whether there is any truth behind it.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani agreed to refund Taylor Swift's Madison Square Garden wedding
According to a rumor that recently surfaced on X, Mamdani said Taylor Swift would be fully refunded for her Madison Square Garden wedding.
He was allegedly quoted as saying, "We're honored they chose New York. Covering these costs is the least we can do."
The post drew mixed reactions online. While many users criticized the Democratic Socialist mayor and questioned whether he had the authority to make such a decision, others dismissed the claim as implausible and called for a fact check.
Fact Check: Zohran Mamdani made no announcement about refunding wedding costs
The claim is false. There are no official records or credible reports showing that Mamdani announced any plan to refund Taylor Swift's wedding expenses.
A search of reputable news outlets found no evidence supporting the claim. Had such an announcement been made, it would likely have been widely reported.
When asked on Friday whether Swift would reimburse the city for police overtime related to the ceremony, Mamdani said Swift had already paid more than $160,000 for a New York City permit to hold her wedding with NFL star Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden.
"Taylor Swift has already paid the cost of the permit that was lodged, which was over $160,000 for that event and for the response to that event," Mamdani said.
He made no mention of refunding those costs. Additionally, the viral claim originated from the parody X account 'Hoops Crave', making it satirical rather than factual. Therefore, the claim is rated false.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding drew extensive security measures
Before Swift and Kelce tied the knot on July 3, city officials implemented extensive security measures for the high-profile event.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the department assigned a dedicated police detail while city agencies coordinated traffic and crowd control around the venue.
According to ABC News, the NYPD also enforced temporary street closures and restricted pedestrian and vehicle access near Madison Square Garden, including areas around Penn Station and Moynihan Train Hall.
Ahead of the ceremony, Swift and Kelce also made headlines for their charitable efforts after donating $26 million to several organizations, including Answer The Call, a New York City nonprofit that supports the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.
