White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, known for her own high-end fashion choices, has ignited a political firestorm by publicly criticising the wardrobe of New York City's new First Lady. The controversy centres on a pair of $630 boots worn by Rama Duwaji, wife of newly sworn-in Mayor Zohran Mamdani, during his oath ceremony.
A Clash of Fashion and Ideology
On Friday, the 28-year-old Leavitt took to her Instagram stories to launch a pointed attack. She juxtaposed Duwaji's expensive footwear with the left-leaning political agenda of her husband, Mayor Mamdani. Leavitt accused them of hypocrisy, suggesting they advocate for higher taxes on New Yorkers while indulging in designer luxuries themselves.
"They want New Yorkers to hand over more than half their income to the government - while she wears designer boots worth your weekly paycheck," Leavitt wrote. She concluded her post with, "Classic Communists - rules for you, but not for them. There are reasons Communism has failed everywhere it’s been tried. Good luck, New York," adding a sad face emoji.
The Ceremony and The Stylist's Defence
The incident stems from the oath-taking ceremony on Thursday, where Zohran Mamdani officially became New York City's 112th mayor. The new First Couple opted for an all-black ensemble. Duwaji, also 28, wore knee-length shorts, a dark Balenciaga wool coat, and the now-controversial $630 Missta boots.
In response to the criticism, New York stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, who styled Duwaji for the event, clarified the situation on her Substack. She explained that the entire outfit, including the boots, was borrowed sample pieces, a common practice in the fashion industry. "I’m just going to have to get comfortable with the fact that people on the internet do not understand what being lent a SAMPLE that has been borrowed before and will be borrowed again means," she wrote.
Political Agenda Fuels the Fashion Critique
Leavitt's attack was not merely about fashion; it was a direct reference to Mayor Mamdani's political platform. Mamdani rose to prominence, defeating Trump-backed Andrew Cuomo, on a campaign heavily focused on an ambitious and controversial affordable housing agenda. While he has not explicitly stated that New Yorkers would surrender "half their income," as Leavitt claimed, his proposals do involve significant measures.
His plan suggests taxing wealthy residents and increasing the city's corporate tax rate to fund his housing initiatives, a policy direction that has caused concern among some segments of the population. Leavitt's comments frame the designer boots as a symbol of perceived contradiction between the couple's personal choices and their advocated policies.
The episode highlights the intense scrutiny public figures face, where personal style becomes a battleground for political point-scoring. It raises questions about authenticity, privilege, and the optics of luxury in modern progressive politics.
