Zohran Mamdani took oath as the Mayor of New York as the clock struck midnight on January 1 — vowing to govern “expansively and audaciously”. The private ceremony at an abandoned subway station was followed by a massive inaugural event outside City Hall with several thousand supporters and political allies in attendance. A moment from the ceremony has since gone viral — with critics insisting that the Indian-origin had recreated the Nazi salute. The gesture had received widespread media coverage last year after Elon Musk made a similar move during an event celebrating the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.
Videos shared online show the new Mayor placing the palm of his right hand flat against his heart before raising it straight out. His fingers remained briefly outstretched before being bent into a wave. Slight differences in setting and attire within the now-viral clips suggest the new mayor repeated the gesture during different moments in the inaugural celebrations. Netizens were also quick to note that the video had been cropped to suggest nefarious intentions.
‘Lying propagandists’
The gesture has been discussed extensively over the past two days — with MAGA supporters insisting that it was a ‘Nazi salute’. Many on social media have also lashed out at American news organisations for failing to cover the matter. Others recalled the outcry following Musk’s gesture and wondered why a similar reaction had not been evoked for Mamdani.
“They are all lying propagandists,” Musk wrote in response to an X post questioning legacy media organisations.
Supporters of Musk and Trump had previously pushed back against the accusations — arguing that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO was conveying a ‘heartfelt thank-you’ with the gesture, rather than a Nazi salute. Musk had tapped the left side of his chest with his right hand and then extended his arm with an open palm during an event in January 2025.
What exactly is a Nazi salute?
Also known as the Hitler salute or Sieg Heil salute, it is a sign of allegiance and obedience that was formally adopted by the Nazi Party in 1926. The gesture involves fully extending the right arm straight, forward and upward at about a 45-degree angle. The hand is held straight with fingers together and palm facing downward. It took inspiration from the Italian Fascist salute and was often accompanied by chants siuch “Heil Hitler!” or “Sieg Heil!”.
The gesture is now recognised widely as a symbol of Nazism, white supremacy, and extremism. It remains banned in Germany and several other countries. While considered offensive and controversial, it is technically protected under the First Amendment as free speech and symbolic expression within the United States.