The NYPD denied it’s sending any personnel to serve as security detail for Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife Rama Duwaji during her upcoming Middle East trip – an awkward rejoinder to City Hall’s claim the department “strongly” recommended she be accompanied by New York City cops.
The NYPD does not send officers to countries with level four travel advisories for discretionary reasons not linked to investigative work,” an NYPD spokesperson insisted early Tuesday.
Duwaji, 29, is visiting the countries on the State Department’s “Do Not Travel” list starting Sept. 20, beginning with Lebanon and Syria.
The NYPD denied it’s sending any personnel to serve as security detail for Rama Duwaji during her upcoming Middle East trip that starts with visits to Syria and Lebanon. Instagram/@ramaduwaji
“It’s not official business. It’s not doing anything for the city,” a source with knowledge of the trip told The Post.
A source familiar with her security detail said the first lady, who Mamdani has described as a “private person,” specifically requested NYPD provide security following another overseas trip last month without police protection.
The mayor’s office made it seem like New York’s Finest accompanying Duwaji on her Middle East jaunt was a done deal.
“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,” said mayoral spokesperson Dora Pekec.
But the department quickly shot down the notion in unambiguous terms.
City Hall claimed the NYPD “strongly” recommended Rama Duwaji be accompanied by New York City cops on her trip. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com
“This is not an investigative trip, and therefore, NYPD personnel will not be traveling there for it.”
The Post has reached out to the mayor’s office for clarification on the apparent discrepancy but did not immediately hear back.
Duwaji’s voyage just so happens to overlap with the 81st UN General Assembly, during which NYPD resources will be stretched to the breaking point, exacerbated after Hizzoner urged New Yorkers to take to the streets to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual gathering of world leaders.
