Bernie Sanders ditches iconic mittens look while swearing in socialist Zohran Mamdani as NYC mayor

By Fox News · Fox News

Sen. Bernie Sanders , I-Vt., appeared without the iconic mittens that helped make him a viral sensation during former President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration when he administered the oath of office for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at City Hall Thursday. The moment came as Sanders swore in Mamdani, who described himself in his inaugural address as a " democratic socialist ," telling 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 in a winter coat and handmade mittens spread rapidly across social media during Biden’s inauguration. Before administering the oath, Sanders delivered a lengthy address praising Mamdani’s campaign and agenda, framing the election as a rejection of political establishments . ZOHRAN MAMDANI WILL BE FIRST MAYOR TO BE SWORN IN ON QURAN DURING NEW YORK CITY INAUGURATION He told the crowd that volunteers "took on the Democratic establishment, the Republican establishment, the president of the United States and some enormously wealthy oligarchs." Sanders also defended policies Mamdani’s opponents had labeled "radical" or "communistic," arguing that proposals such as affordable housing, free childcare, free bus transportation and taxing the wealthy were "not radical" but necessary in "the richest country in the history of the world." Sanders formally administered 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 INAUGURATED ALONGSIDE BERNIE SANDERS AND AOC ON NEW YEAR’S DAY Mamdani pledged to pursue policies, including freezing rents for stabilized apartments , delivering universal childcare, making buses free and increasing taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, saying City Hall would "govern expansively and audaciously." Sanders’ attire drew widespread…