The White House appears to be losing patience with Zohran Mamdani. Karoline Leavitt recently criticized New York City’s first lady just hours after her husband assumed office.
Leavitt, who serves as the White House press secretary, called out Rama Duwaji for what she described as blatant hypocrisy. During Mamdani’s inauguration held in an unused subway tunnel, Duwaji sported $630 Miista designer boots.
“They expect New Yorkers to give away more than half of their earnings to the government, yet she flaunts designer boots that cost as much as a weekly paycheck,” Leavitt expressed on Instagram.
“Typical of Communists — they impose rules on others while exempting themselves. Communism has consistently failed wherever it’s been implemented. Good luck, New York.”
In defense, Duwaji’s stylist clarified that the boots were on loan.
This fashion critique comes at a time when Mamdani is launching one of the boldest affordability plans in New York’s recent history.
His platform includes universal childcare for children aged six weeks to five years, freezing rent for roughly two million rent-stabilized tenants, making buses ‘fast and free,’ and launching city-run grocery stores to undercut food prices.
Mamdani has never claimed New Yorkers would ‘hand over more than half their income,’ as Leavitt alleged. He has, however, proposed funding his multi-billion-dollar plans through higher taxes on wealthy residents and corporations.
Leavitt’s attack comes after a surprisingly friendly meeting between Mamdani and Trump at the White House.
During his inaugural address, Mamdani reiterated his commitment to left-wing principles.
Karoline Leavitt took a shot at New York City’s first lady just hours after her husband Zohran Mamdani was inaugurated – suggesting the White House was done playing nice
President Trump’s spokeswoman blasted Rama Duwaji’s $630 Miista designer boots she wore at Mamdani’s swearing in ceremony in an abandoned subway tunnel
Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City just after midnight Thursday, and standing by his side was his wife, Rama Duwaji – in some very pricy boots
‘I was elected as a Democratic Socialist, and I will govern as a democratic socialist,’ Mamdani told the crowd. ‘I will not abandon my principles for fear of being deemed radical.’
‘We may not always succeed,’ he added. ‘But never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try.’
Mamdani received a warm Oval Office reception from Trump just months before Leavitt’s attack on the fancy socialist boots.
Trump had originally branded Mamdani a ‘100% Communist Lunatic’ during the mayoral campaign and threatened to cut off federal funding to New York City.
Yet when Mamdani arrived at the White House following his win, the reception was dramatically warmer than anyone expected.
Standing before a stunned press corps, Trump beamed as he introduced the 34-year-old Democratic Socialist.
‘I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,’ Trump said. ‘We’re going to be helping him, to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York.’
Trump even shielded Mamdani from hostile questions, joking that it was fine for the mayor-elect to have previously called him a ‘fascist.’
Critics slammed the illustrator for her pricey footwear choice, with Mamdani’s campaign driving home his desire to make New York more ‘affordable’
Last November President Donald Trump offered unusually warm praise to New York City’s mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani during a surprise Oval Office meeting in a striking shift of tone
Hours after the meeting, Trump was still visibly energized by the encounter.
‘I hope he’s going to be a really great mayor,’ Trump said. ‘The better he does, the happier I am.
‘I think he’s gonna surprise some conservative people, actually,’ Trump said at the time. ‘And some very liberal people he won’t surprise because they already like him.’
For his part, Mamdani has made no attempt to hide his ideology.
‘I can tell you I am someone who is a Democratic Socialist,’ he said. ‘I’ve been very open about that, and I know there might be differences about ideology, but the place of agreement is the work that needs to be done to make New York City affordable.’
In November, Trump himself even seized on their shared outlook.
‘We agree on a lot more than I would have thought. Some of his ideas are the same ones I have.’
Mamdani officially became New York City’s 112th mayor just after midnight on Thursday, taking the oath of office in a historic, decommissioned City Hall subway station.
During an Oval Office meeting in November, Trump congratulated Mamdani on his election win as the two opponents met to discuss policies for New York City, including affordability, public safety, and immigration enforcement
He used a Quran during the ceremony, becoming the city’s first Muslim and first South Asian mayor, and the youngest in more than a century.
But it was his wife, Duwaji’s outfit, that stole the spotlight.
The 28-year-old artist and illustrator wore black knee-length shorts, a dark vintage Balenciaga wool coat, and the now-infamous Miista ‘Shelley’ boots – mid-calf leather shoes with a lace-up back, pointed toe, and low sculpted heel.
The European brand advertises its commitment to sustainability and craftsmanship, noting it is ‘happy to sacrifice profit’ to subvert fashion norms.
Duwaji’s stylist said the entire look, including the boots, was rented or borrowed.
