New York City entered a new era on January 1, 2026, as Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as the 112th Mayor of the nation’s largest city. While the day was marked by historic "firsts," it quickly became a lightning rod for viral backlash from MAGA figures and conservative commentators. br br br Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist, made history as the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor. He held two ceremonies: a private midnight oath at the historic Old City Hall subway station (sworn in by AG Letitia James on a 19th-century Quran) and a grand public inauguration at City Hall featuring Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. br br br The Viral Controversies: br The "Nazi Salute" Row: A clip of Mamdani’s hand gesture during his inaugural address went viral, with MAGA influencers like Brandon Straka and Eric Daugherty accusing him of making a "Nazi salute." Supporters pushed back, noting the gesture was a common oratorical flourish and comparing the backlash to a similar controversy involving Elon Musk a year prior. br br "Xi Jinping Wants His Speech Back": Former Ambassador Nikki Haley and media personality Megyn Kelly slammed Mamdani’s speech after he vowed to replace "rugged individualism" with "the warmth of collectivism," with Haley mocking the rhetoric as sounding like CCP propaganda. br br The "Communist" Label: The inauguration comes just months after President Trump labeled Mamdani a "communist" and threatened to withhold federal funding from NYC if the new mayor's progressive agenda proceeds. br br Punjabi Beats at City Hall: Watch the moment the subway ceremony turned into a block party with a live performance by Babbulicious, a multicultural crossover that has divided opinion online. br br Is this a "New Era" for working-class New Yorkers or, as critics claim, a "radical" shift that will bankrupt the city? We dive into the most heated moments from Inauguration Day 2026.