New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, was seen preparing to board a long-haul flight to Mallorca, a Spanish island, during a severe heatwave that prompted the mayor to ask residents to conserve energy. Images shared on social media showed Duwaji, 29, boarding the flight on Friday.
Mamdani had previously advised New Yorkers to set their air conditioning units to 78 degrees Fahrenheit and reduce electricity consumption to help stabilize the city's power grid, which he stated was working "overtime" due to soaring temperatures. The mayor emphasized that maintaining a stable grid was crucial for keeping air conditioning running and saving lives during the extreme heat.
The mayor's request and Duwaji's subsequent travel drew criticism and accusations of hypocrisy. Comedian Arynne Wexler first shared images of Duwaji boarding the flight, calling the situation ironic and labeling Duwaji a "champagne socialist." Republicans also seized on the mayor's advice, with several lawmakers criticizing it as a failure of socialist policies and a demand for personal sacrifice.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani reiterated his advice on Thursday, urging residents to conserve energy as the New York Independent System Operator warned of significant strain on the state's electrical grid. He posted on X, formerly Twitter, that "A stable grid means the AC stays on and lives are saved. Let's ease demand and get through the heat — together."
New York City has experienced extreme heat, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The city has been under an extreme heat warning, leading to struggles for shade in public spaces like Central Park.
Similar energy conservation requests related to heatwaves have been made by officials in other regions. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott supported conservation appeals for residents to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to reduce electricity demand during power emergencies. This practice of advising residents to set air conditioning to 78 degrees to prevent blackouts has also been a policy of New York City mayors since at least 1994, including former Mayor Eric Adams in 2023.