Mayor Mamdani Criticized for Attending 9/11 Remembrance

Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced criticism for attending the 9/11 remembrance event at Ground Zero on Friday. Some city residents, including a former police officer and a mourner, found his presence offensive, suggesting he should have stayed away.

Mamdani has attracted disapproval due to his associations with controversial figures, and for appointing Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel. Kassem previously represented a Guantánamo detainee linked to an al Qaeda plot. Several public figures, such as former New York Republican Gov. George Pataki and 9/11-era FDNY Commissioner Thomas von Essen, urged Mamdani to avoid the ceremony.

“He showed up anyway. It does bother us,” said Walter Matuza, whose father died during the attacks.

Matuza was part of a group that petitioned to keep Mamdani away, citing connections with streamer Hasan Piker and Kassem’s appointment.

Mike, a former police officer from New Jersey, criticized Mamdani’s presence, recalling his experiences watching the attack unfold and assisting NYPD officers. He suggested Mamdani could have approached the situation differently.

Another attendee described Mamdani as a “communist,” arguing the event should remain unpolitical. Steven, who traveled from Hobe Sound, Florida, labeled Mamdani’s attendance as “disrespectful” and “offensive.” He noted the petition against Mamdani gathered over 110,000 signatures.

“I feel that he should stay away,” Steven remarked.

Steven criticized Kassem’s appointment and expressed his intent to educate his children on 9/11, wary of ideological misunderstandings.

John, another attendee, acknowledged Mamdani’s right to attend but stressed the importance of honoring the fallen respectfully.

Mamdani, in a prior statement, expressed pride in New York and emphasized focusing on the families affected by 9/11 and the first responders. During the event, Mamdani was seen briefly interacting with former mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

All living former presidents reportedly attended the ceremony. President Donald Trump opted for the Pentagon’s remembrance before departing for Ireland.