NYC First Lady skips America’s 250th birthday for European Islamic retreat

“Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation.”

By World Israel News Staff

As Americans across the country marked the nation’s 250th anniversary over the July 4 weekend, New York City First Lady Rama Duwaji spent the holiday at an Islamic “spiritual wellness” retreat on the Spanish island of Mallorca, drawing sharp criticism from elected officials and renewing attention on the political views of New York City’s first family.

According to the New York Post, Duwaji departed for Spain ahead of the Independence Day celebrations and was photographed waiting at a United Airlines gate before boarding her flight.

The trip quickly became a flashpoint. Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola told the Post, “Nothing says ‘America 250’ quite like skipping the celebration for a Mediterranean vacation. I am not surprised because she has made her hatred for America very evident.”

Staten Island Councilman Frank Morano also criticized the timing of the trip.

“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 said.

Conservative commentator Arynne Wexler, who published the airport photos on X, mocked the contrast between the mayor’s public messaging and his wife’s travel plans.

“Funny how when Zohran Mamdani was telling New Yorkers to lower their AC his wife Rama Duwaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca,” Wexler wrote. She added, “Reminder that I can’t tag her because she deleted her account after her insanely offensive tweets were discovered. Champagne socialists.”

Funny how when @ZohranKMamdani was telling New Yorkers to lower their AC his wife Rama Duwaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca

Reminder that I can’t tag her because she deleted her account after her insanely offensive tweets were discovered

Champagne socialists pic.twitter.com/aD1XmiMXNe

— Arynne Wexler (@ArynneWexler) July 3, 2026

Duwaji has faced repeated scrutiny over her online activity and activism. Earlier this year, reports resurfaced showing she had “liked” a number of pro-Palestinian social media posts following the October 7 Hamas massacre.

She also illustrated a literary work included in a collection edited by Palestinian activist Susan Abulhawa, who has made inflammatory statements about Jews and Israel. After years-old social media posts containing racial, homophobic, and other offensive remarks resurfaced, Duwaji deleted her X account.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has consistently defended his wife as a private citizen with no role in his administration, noting that some of her social media activity predated both their marriage and his mayoral campaign.

Mamdani himself has remained at the center of controversy over his positions on Israel and the Jewish community.

He has refused to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” arguing that it should not automatically be interpreted as a call for violence, while continuing to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and repeatedly accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Shortly before the July 4 holiday, Mamdani also came under fire after referring to members of the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC as “monsters” while discussing the influence of money in politics, comments that drew condemnation from Jewish leaders and elected officials.

The first lady’s absence from America’s 250th birthday celebration, combined with the mayor’s recent rhetoric and the couple’s record on Israel-related issues, added another chapter to the ongoing debate surrounding New York City’s new first family.