Mamdani's wife to travel to Syria, Lebanon with taxpayer-funded NYPD security

Rama Duwaji, wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, is reportedly planning a trip to Syria and Lebanon next month, accompanied by a security detail from the New York Police Department. This detail is taxpayer-funded, despite both destination countries being under a U.S. "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory.

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Upon the strong recommendation of the NYPD, the First Lady’s security detail will be joining her when she travels to visit family in Syria and Lebanon.

The New York Post, citing a source, reported that Duwaji requested the NYPD detail after a previous trip abroad in July without police protection. Mamdani's office confirmed the trip and the security detail, with a spokesperson stating it was upon the "strong recommendation of the NYPD."

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We’re putting the police officers in danger. They will be viewed as the bad guys. These are war zones.

However, the trip is described as not being official business and "not doing anything for the city." This has drawn criticism from figures like Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, who expressed concern on X (formerly Twitter). Hikind argued that deploying NYPD officers to these regions puts them in danger and that they would be perceived negatively. "We’re putting the police officers in danger. They will be viewed as the bad guys. These are war zones," he wrote.

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Duwaji doesn’t need security. She will get a hero’s welcome and be protected by Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

Hikind further suggested that Duwaji would not need official security, stating, "Duwaji doesn’t need security. She will get a hero’s welcome and be protected by Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis." He concluded, "Duwaji will be fine."

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Duwaji will be fine.