Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, drew sharp criticism over the Fourth of July weekend after reportedly leaving the country while the city marked America’s 250th anniversary.
Duwaji was reportedly seen at Newark International Airport before boarding a flight to Palma, Mallorca, where she was said to be attending an Islamic “spiritual wellness” retreat run by The Women Sanctuary.
Republican Council Members Blast The Timing
The trip quickly became political fuel, especially among Republican council members who argued that the city’s First Lady should have been present during a major national milestone.
“Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident,” Councilwoman Joann Ariola, R-Queens, told The Post.
For critics, the issue was not simply travel. It was optics.
At a time when New York City hosted civic events tied to the semiquincentennial, Duwaji’s absence gave opponents an easy target. Meanwhile, Mamdani remained in the city as heat alerts, cooling center expansions and public energy-saving requests dominated the week.
A Missed Moment For The City
Councilman Frank Morano, R-Staten Island, also said Duwaji’s absence sent the wrong message during a year meant to spotlight public pride and civic participation.
“It’s disappointing that the First Lady chose to be overseas instead of taking part in one of the biggest civic events our city and country will mark this year,” Morano told The Post.
Morano added that nobody was arguing elected officials’ families should be barred from taking personal trips. Still, he said the 250th anniversary carried special weight.
“No one is saying elected officials and their families can’t take vacations, but this was a moment to show up for the city and for the country, and she missed it,” Morano said.
Trip To Mallorca Draws Online Fire
The criticism did not stay inside City Hall. Conservative commentator Arynne Wexler posted photos that appeared to show Duwaji at a United Airlines gate and blasted the timing of the flight.
“Funny how when @ZohranKMamdani was telling New Yorkers to lower their AC his wife Rama Duwaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca,” Wexler said on X, according to The Post.
The mayor’s office reportedly said Duwaji was not accompanied by officers assigned to the couple’s taxpayer-funded NYPD detail. However, the office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the broader criticism.
Retreat Focused On Quranic Plants
The Women Sanctuary’s website listed the Mallorca event as “Plants Of The Quran | 6th Edition,” and marked it as sold out.
A separate retreat page described the program as centered on plants mentioned in the Quran, including olives, pomegranates, dates and figs. The retreat also included workshops, shared meals and spiritual reflection.
Still, the destination, the timing and the mayor’s own public messaging created a messy contrast. While Mamdani stayed in New York during a heat wave and urged residents to conserve energy, his wife’s reported flight to Spain became another flashpoint in the city’s America 250 debate.
