New York mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during his public inauguration ceremony, followed by a block party at City Hall in New York on January 1, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

New York City`s new mayor Zohran Mamdani has vowed to govern America`s largest city "audaciously", revoking executive orders issued by his predecessor, including pro-Israel measures.

In a speech on his first day as mayor on Thursday, the 34-year-old democratic socialist pledged to "reinvent" New York City, promising "a new era" for the city and an ambitious start to his term of office.

The city`s first Muslim mayor said a "moment like this comes rarely and rarer still is it that the people themselves whose hands are upon the levers of change".

Noting that he was advised to lower expectations in his inaugural address, he stated "I will do no such thing." "The only expectation I seek to reset is that of small expectations. Beginning today we will govern expansively and audaciously. We may not always succeed, but never will we be accused of lacking the courage to try."

He stressed that, as a democratic socialist, he will not abandon his principles "for fear of being called radical."

Mamdani ended by saying, "The work has only just begun."

Hours later, Mamdani revoked all executive orders issued by his predecessor, Eric Adams, after 26 September 2024, the same day he was indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges, later dropped by the administration of President Donald Trump.

The annulled orders include a directive last month that prohibited mayoral appointees and staff "from boycotting and disinvesting from Israel".

He also revoked a directive that expanded the definition of anti-Semitism that classified certain forms of criticism of Israel as antisemitic.

Mamdani, however, did not revoke the establishment of the city`s Office to Combat Antisemitism, created under Adams last May.

Mamdani`s office said the order was issued to ensure "a fresh start for the incoming administration and reissue executive orders that the administration feels are central to delivering continued service, excellence, and value-driven leadership".

Mamdani is the city`s first Muslim, first South Asian, first African-born mayor and the first to take the oath of office using Islam`s holy book, the Quran.

His swearing-in ceremony was held on Wednesday shortly before the start of New Year`s Day 2026 in the decommissioned City Hall subway station beneath Lower Manhattan.