New York City’s First Lady, Rama Duwaji, skipped America’s 250th birthday celebration to attend a $3,400-per-head Islamic spiritual wellness retreat in Spain. The retreat, run by a for-profit group called The Women’s Sanctuary, features art workshops and spiritual reflection centered around sacred plants from Islamic texts.
Reaction from Elected Officials
Conservative commentator Arynne Wexler criticized Duwaji’s decision, posting photos of her at a United Airlines gate waiting to board her flight. Councilwoman Joann Ariola of Queens stated that Duwaji’s actions were not surprising, given her past social media posts praising Palestinian terror groups and attacking American service members.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Duwaji’s husband, spent America’s birthday delivering a tone-deaf address from City Hall, decriing capitalism and condemning American foreign policy. This has led to criticism that the couple does not share the values of the New Yorkers they were elected to serve.
Original reporting: KTSA News/Talk (San Antonio) — read the source article.
