Zohran Mamdani and AOC spotted laughing at 9/11 ceremony while victims' families weep during reading of names
A New York Post report puts on the record a political flashpoint: the new mayor and a prominent congresswoman appearing to laugh during the solemn reading of names at the 25th anniversary Ground Zero ceremony, while victims' families wept.
1 / 5In the article
After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep. This is NYC's Mayor.”
After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep. This is NYC's Mayor.
A Republican official frames Mamdani's laughter as a moral betrayal of the families who had pleaded for his absence.
In context
“How the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9/11 are being read aloud? Why would you do so?” wondered Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz. “After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep. This is NYC’s Mayor,” scolded Brooklyn Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov. The mayor’s very presence at the commemorative event stood in defiance to a campaign by aggrieved 9/11 victims’ relatives, who earlier this week hand-delivered him a petition urging him to steer clear of the ceremonies marking the attack.
Receipt
Giuliani's former head of security — a self-described lifelong Republican who had been critical of both politicians — said the video lacked context: the camera caught AOC greeting Mamdani hello, and multiple politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike, were laughing and joking nearby.
A credible Republican eyewitness challenges the viral video's narrative, introducing the story's key counterargument about missing context.
In context
The mayor’s very presence at the commemorative event stood in defiance to a campaign by aggrieved 9/11 victims’ relatives, who earlier this week hand-delivered him a petition urging him to steer clear of the ceremonies marking the attack. But former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s head of security, Michael Ragusa, said the widely circulating video of Mamdani and AOC’s moment of mirth lacked context, claiming he was standing right next to them at the ceremony. “The camera just caught her greeting him hello. Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me. Republicans and Democrats,” he wrote on X. More coverage on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11:
former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's former head of security Michael Ragusa, — a self-described lifelong Republican who had been critical of both politicians — said the widely circulating video of Mamdani and AOC’s moment of mirth lacked context: claiming he was standing right next to them at the ceremony. “The camera just caught her AOC greeting him Mamdani hello, and multiple other politicians, Republicans and Democrats alike, were laughing and joking behind me. Republicans and Democrats,” nearby.
Receipt
The mayor's presence defied a petition hand-delivered by 9/11 victims' relatives earlier that week, urging him to skip the ceremonies entirely.
Mamdani's attendance directly contradicted a formal, in-person appeal from the victims' own relatives, sharpening the conflict at the story's center.
In context
“After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep. This is NYC’s Mayor,” scolded Brooklyn Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov. The mayor’s very presence at the commemorative event stood in defiance to a campaign by aggrieved 9/11 victims’ relatives, who earlier this week hand-delivered him a petition urging him to steer clear of the ceremonies marking the attack. But former Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s head of security, Michael Ragusa, said the widely circulating video of Mamdani and AOC’s moment of mirth lacked context, claiming he was standing right next to them at the ceremony.
The mayor's very presence at the commemorative event stood in defiance to defied a campaign petition hand-delivered by aggrieved 9/11 victims' relatives who earlier this that week, hand-delivered him a petition urging him to steer clear of skip the ceremonies entirely.
Receipt
Mamdani had fought back tears before Muslim leaders recounting how his aunt stopped taking the subway after 9/11 because she did not feel safe in her hijab — a framing critics called a trivialization of the attacks.
Earlier campaign controversy over Mamdani's aunt story provides the backdrop of why critics were already primed to read his conduct uncharitably.
In context
…Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Mamdani was criticized on the campaign trail for appearing to trivialize the terror attacks, fighting back tears in front of a cadre of Muslim leaders as he told the story of how his “Auntie” was personally victimized. “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after Sept. 11 because she did not feel safe in her hjiab,” then-candidate Mamdani intoned.…
attacks, fighting Mamdani had fought back tears in front of a cadre of before Muslim leaders as he told the story of recounting how his “Auntie” was personally victimized. “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after Sept. 11 9/11 because she did not feel safe in her hjiab,” then-candidate Mamdani hijab — a framing critics called a trivialization of the attacks.
Receipt
Mamdani only joined the Thursday-night interfaith memorial walk for its final stop — at an Islamic center.
Joining only the Islamic center stop adds to the pattern of selective participation that critics use to question his commitment to the full commemoration.
In context
“And for the record I am a life long republican who has been very critical of these two,” he added. A short time before his DSA comrade chuckled by his side, Mamdani was seen shaking hands in an awkward interaction with former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led the city on Sept. 11, 2001. On Thursday night, Hizzoner took part in a Manhattan 9/11 memorial walk, with stops at Christian, Jewish and Muslim houses of worship — though Mamdani only joined for the final stop at an Islamic center. Start your day with all you need to know
memorial walk, with stops at Christian, Jewish and Muslim houses of worship — though Mamdani only joined for the Thursday-night interfaith memorial walk for its final stop — at an Islamic center.
Receipt
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