Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., appeared without the iconic mittens that made him a viral sensation at former President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration as he took the oath of office for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at City Hall on Thursday.
The moment came when Sanders cursed at Mamdani, who described himself in his inaugural speech as a “democratic socialist” and told his supporters: “I was elected as a democratic socialist and I will govern as a democratic socialist.”
Sanders’ appearance marked a visual departure from the image that made him a global pop culture figure four years ago, when photos of the Vermont senator bundled up in a winter coat and handmade mittens spread quickly across social media during Biden’s inauguration.
Before taking the oath of office, Sanders gave a lengthy speech praising Mamdani’s campaign and agenda, describing the election as a rejection of the political establishment.
ZOHRAN MAMDANI BECOMES THE FIRST MAYOR TO BE SWORN IN ABOUT THE QURAN AT NEW YORK CITY’S INAUGURATION
He told the crowd that volunteers were “taking on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the president of the United States and some extremely wealthy oligarchs.”
Sanders also defended policies that Mamdani’s opponents had labeled “radical” or “communist,” arguing that proposals such as affordable housing, free child care, free bus transportation and taxing the rich were “not radical” but necessary in “the richest country in the history of the world.”
Sanders formally took the oath of office shortly after 2:40 p.m., prompting chants of “Zohran” from the crowd gathered at City Hall.
SOCIALIST NYC MAYOR MAMDANI ALONGSIDE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY
New York Attorney General Letitia James, left; Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; and Jane and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., attend the inauguration of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani outside City Hall on Thursday. (Fox News/Pool)
Mamdani promised to implement policies including freezing rents for stabilized apartments, providing universal child care, making buses free and raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers. He said City Hall would “govern expansively and boldly.”
Sanders’ clothing attracted widespread attention in 2021, Then images of him sitting alone in brown chevron mittens with his arms and legs crossed became one of the most shared images of Biden’s inauguration, spawning memes, merchandise and fundraising efforts.
At Thursday’s inauguration ceremony, a similar Sanders appeared sitting cross-legged patiently in the audience during Lucy Dacus’s performance of the socialist anthem “Bread and Roses.”
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., sits in the stands on Capitol Hill before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20, 2021 in Washington, DC (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
On Tuesday, Sanders instead showed up in standard winter gloves, a blue hat and a puffy green coat.
The wool and fleece mittens were handmade by Vermont teacher Jen Ellis, who later reflected on the viral moment in a 2022 interview with Vermont Editionin which she says that after the Internet sensation, she donated approximately $2 million to Vermont charities through mitten-related fundraising.
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