Mamdani’s first City Hall press conference as mayor is with fawning influencers

 In with the new… media.

A fawning flock of influencers flung softball questions at Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday during a “new media” press conference – his first time taking questions in City Hall. 

The 34-year-old Hizzoner – whose slick, smiley social media videos helped catapult him into office – basked in the adulation of a globe-wearing “eco rapper,” fitness influencers and other starstruck terminally online youths.

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Social media influencers asked questions to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, as this is his first time taking questions in City Hall.NYC Mayor's Office

Many of the not-quite-Cronkites launched into their questions by noting they had met Mamdani on the campaign trail.

“I’ve had so much fun making content for you,” his first questioner — a TikToker with the handle @laydayallday — gushed, boasting she reached 120 million people with her pro-Mamdani posts.

“It’s just been really an honor to do that for you. I do it just through dancing and spreading joy.”

Mamdani launched into the lovefest — which his team called his “first new media press conference as mayor — by noting the Blue Room inside City Hall has typically reserved for traditional press.

“But this administration is not traditional, and the way we reach New Yorkers cannot be either,” he said.

The actual press conference, however, proved reminiscent of Mamdani’s predecessor Eric Adams’ self-congratulatory preambles to the often-tough grillings he faced from reporters.

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TikToker @laydayallday told the mayor, “I’ve had so much fun making content for you,” with her pro-Mamdani posts reaching around 120 million people.tiktok.com/@laydayallday

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Mamdani said his first press conference was out of the ordinary while mentioning, “this administration is not traditional, and the way we reach New Yorkers cannot be either.”Instagram /Hila the Earth

Mamdani gave a straight-faced rundown of what his administration “delivered” during its first six days, from yet-to-be-scheduled “rental ripoff” hearings to a dozen executive orders.

The new mayor’s questioners spared him awkward inquiries, instead lobbing gimmes straight in Mamdani’s wheelhouse.

A pair of fitness buff influencers, for instance, teed Mamdani up to tout his executive order targeting “junk fees” that have been persistent problems at gyms.

When not sucking up to Mamdani, the influencers spent their time filming selfie videos and parading around the building — and dodging The Post’s questions.

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Mamdani fielded a chorus of soft questions from the “new media.”NYC Mayor's Office

“We don’t talk to, like, media,” one said.

Mamdani closed the presser by taking a selfie with the room — and struggling with the phone’s camera settings.

“You didn’t elect a Zoomer, you elected a millennial,” he joked.

https://nypost.com/2026/01/07/us-news/zohran-mamdanis-first-city-hall-press-conference-as-mayor-is-with-fawning-influencers/