Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor

The 34-year-old Democrat is the first Muslim leader of America’s biggest city (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics as one of the country’s most-watched politicians.

Mr Mamdani, a Democrat, was sworn in at a decommissioned subway station below City Hall just after midnight, placing his hand on a Koran as he took his oath as the city’s first Muslim mayor.