In the US, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez criticized after footage from September 11 ceremony
In the United States, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and House of Representatives member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were criticized after footage emerged from a ceremony honoring the victims of the September 11 attacks at Ground Zero. In the broadcast video, they could be seen smiling, talking and laughing while the names of those killed were being read from the stage.
As The Jerusalem Post reports, the ceremony took place on September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of the 2001 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. Relatives of the victims continued the annual tradition of reading the names of those killed. The program also included moments of silence in memory of the planes striking the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, as well as the plane crash in Pennsylvania.
Controversy before the ceremony
Mamdani's participation in the event caused controversy even before it began. Families of attack victims launched a petition calling on the mayor not to attend the ceremony, considering his presence inappropriate because of his political views and political affiliation. According to CBS New York, the number of signatories rose significantly in the days before the event.
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Mamdani, whom the publication describes as the first Muslim to serve as New York City mayor, rejected these calls. He said he would attend the ceremony to honor those killed and the first responders. On the eve of the anniversary, the mayor also signed an order declaring September 11 a day of remembrance.
Handshake with Giuliani
Shortly before the episode that sparked criticism, Mamdani shook hands with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani led the city during the 2001 attacks and had called on Mamdani the day before not to attend the memorial ceremony. The publication described their handshake as brief and cold.
Mamdani had previously also been criticized for remarks about the consequences of the September 11 attacks. During his election campaign, he spoke about a relative who stopped using the subway after the attacks because she did not feel safe wearing a hijab. His critics believed that this shifted attention away from the victims of the attacks, while supporters said the politician was drawing attention to hostility toward Muslims after the tragedy.
