Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, spent the days surrounding Independence Day overseas, a decision that quickly became another flashpoint for critics of the city’s new first family.
According to a July 4 report by the New York Post, Duwaji was seen at Newark Liberty International Airport boarding a flight to Palma, Mallorca, a Spanish island in the Mediterranean. The Texas-raised, Dubai-educated Syrian American artist traveled there to participate as the artist-in-residence for an Islamic spiritual retreat known as “The Women’s Sanctuary.”
The retreat, which sold out in advance, focuses on themes drawn from Islamic tradition. Organizers describe the first program, “Plants of the Quran,” as a week of art, botanical workshops, and spiritual reflection centered on plants referenced in the Quran. According to the group’s website, attendance costs approximately $3,400. Duwaji is also scheduled to participate in a second sold-out retreat in Corsica titled “Mary in the Quran,” which explores the figure of Mary as she appears in Islamic scripture.
Mandani’s wife Rama Duwaji ditches America 250 bash for Islamic ‘spiritual wellness’ retreat in Spain https://t.co/XppDI0p9z5 pic.twitter.com/sA27UvsrXZ
— New York Post (@nypost) July 4, 2026
Her trip drew renewed attention because of past social media posts that have generated controversy. The Washington Free Beacon previously reported that Duwaji had shared posts criticizing the United States and expressing support for Palestinian causes, including a 2015 Tumblr repost that criticized American military involvement overseas.
According to the New York Post, one repost stated that “American soldiers fighting in imperialist wars are not brave nor are they fighting for anyone’s freedom. They are mercilessly slaughtering 3rd world civilians and fighting to maintain American hegemony.”
In April, Duwaji apologized for those earlier posts after they resurfaced during her husband’s mayoral campaign.
While Duwaji was overseas, Mayor Mamdani remained in New York for the Independence Day holiday and participated in the annual Empire State Building lighting ceremony, where the landmark was illuminated in red, white, and blue.
Even so, news of Duwaji’s trip prompted criticism from several of the mayor’s political opponents.
Conservative commentator and comedian Arynne Wexler shared photographs that appeared to show Duwaji waiting at a United Airlines gate before her 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 wrote on social media.
Wexler later told the Post that the photographs were provided by a friend who happened to be on the same flight. The newspaper reported that it could not determine the cost of Duwaji’s trip but noted that round-trip airfare between Newark and Palma later in the month started at roughly $900.
Republican members of the New York City Council also criticized the timing of the overseas travel.
“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,” Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola told the Post.
Staten Island Councilman Frank Morano likewise questioned the decision.
“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.
“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.”
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
Mayor Mamdani has previously argued that his wife should not be judged as though she were a member of his administration because she holds no official government position.
The criticism surrounding Duwaji also came against the backdrop of renewed scrutiny of the mayor himself. During a recent heat wave, Mamdani encouraged New Yorkers to conserve electricity by setting air conditioners to 78 degrees, a recommendation that critics contrasted with reports that portions of City Hall were cooled to significantly lower temperatures.
Earlier in the week, Mamdani also delivered remarks criticizing what he described as exclusionary views of American identity and immigration.
“America, if you ask them, becomes less the more people it welcomes,” he said. “America, they will tell you, belongs only to those with the right accent or the right shade of skin. The rest of us, they insist, should be grateful for merely being allowed to visit.”
