Mamdani’s wife SKIPS America 250 for Islamic wellness retreat in Spain
Fox News provides a recap of the July 4 news, starting with President Trump’s planned NATO summit in Turkey and his upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Pope Leo accepts the Freedom Medal for religious freedom, and the wife of the mayor of New York is criticized for attending an Islamic retreat instead of celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The segment ends with Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo winning their hot dog eating competition.
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Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, came under fire over the Fourth of July weekend after she reportedly traveled to Mallorca, Spain, for an Islamic “spiritual health” retreat while New York and the rest of the country celebrated America’s 250th birthday.
The New York Post reported that Duvaji was seen Monday at Newark International Airport before boarding a flight to Palma for a sold-out retreat hosted by The Women Sanctuary.
“Nothing says America 250 like skipping a celebration for a Mediterranean vacation, but I’m not surprised because she’s made her hatred of America very obvious,” Councilwoman Joan Ariola, a Queens Republican, told The Post.
The New York Post reported that Rama Duvaji was seen Monday at Newark International Airport before boarding a flight to Palma for a sold-out retreat hosted by The Women Sanctuary. (Getty Images)
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Councilman Frank Morano, R-Staten Island, also criticized Duvaji’s absence from the quincentennial celebration, saying family members of officials are welcome to travel but should recognize the importance of the event.
“It is disappointing that the first lady chose to travel abroad instead of attending one of the largest civic events our city and country will celebrate this year,” Morano told The Post.
Morano said the question is not whether Duvaji is allowed to travel, but whether she should appear at events in the city during the 250th anniversary.
“No one is saying elected officials and their families can’t take time off, but this was a moment to shine for the city and the country, and she missed it,” Morano said.
Republican council members argue that Duvadji’s absence from the semi-quincentenary was a missed opportunity for the city. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Mamdani’s office told The Post that Duwaji was not accompanied by officers assigned to the taxpayer-funded New York Police Department where the couple lives.
Conservative commentator Arinn Wexler posted photos of Duvaji at the United Airlines gate and criticized the timing of the trip.
“Funny thing is, while @ZohranKMamdani was telling New Yorkers to turn off the air conditioning, his wife Rama Duvaji was boarding a flight to party in Mallorca,” Wexler said on X, according to The Post.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech marking the 250th anniversary of the United States of America at New York City Hall on July 3, 2026. (Anna Connors/Poole via Reuters)
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On the Women’s Sanctuary website, the event “Plants of the Quran | 6th Edition” is listed as a sold-out retreat among other sold-out events. A separate page for the retreat describes a Mallorcan program based on plants mentioned in the Koran, including olives, pomegranates, dates and figs, with workshops, food and spiritual reflections.
Mamdani remained in New York through the heat and the city’s America 250 events. On July 1, his office said the city was expanding cooling centers, extending pool hours and asking businesses and New Yorkers to set thermostats to 78 degrees during peak demand.
C.J. Womack is a deputy editor at Fox News.
CJ joined the Fox News Digital team in 2026, highlighting the vital role journalism plays in shaping politics and culture. He has years of experience in media analysis and reporting.
CJ graduated from Long Beach State University in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism.
You can email news stories to cj.womack@fox.com and follow CJ on Twitter.