Zohran Mamdani is facing backlash after he was seen laughing during the 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony for the September 11 attacks.
The mayor of New York City, 34, was captured laughing with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at Ground Zero on Friday, September 11, as relatives of victims were reading the names of those killed. The moment was captured in footage shared by the New York Post. The annual ceremony marked 25 years since the September 11, 2001, attacks, which killed 2,977 people.
In the video, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, 36, could be seen smiling and laughing together as the ceremony continued around them. The footage quickly drew strong reactions in the YouTube video’s comments section.
“Politics aside they shouldn’t be doing that,” one commenter wrote about the video. “This is not the funeral of a 100 year old man who lived a great life and who we can celebrate. This is the ceremony of thousands of people dying in the biggest tragedy in American history.”
“No one should be laughing at this ceremony,” another commenter wrote, while a third said, “Shame on the both of you.”
Another commenter argued the video did not provide enough context, writing, “Ummm that is way out of context.”
One commenter noted that Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez weren’t the only people seen talking and laughing during the ceremony.
“I see lots of people walking, talking and laughing,” the YouTube user wrote. “This ceremony should be treated like you’re at the Arlington Cemetery.”
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA; Andrew Thomas – CNP / MEGA
The moment came after Mamdani had already faced calls from some 9/11 victims’ relatives to stay away from the Ground Zero ceremony. As Globe previously reported, a petition urging him not to attend had attracted more than 100,000 signatures ahead of the anniversary.
Also during the ceremony, Mamdani was seen shaking hands and briefly speaking with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, despite Giuliani, 82, previously insisting Mamdani should not attend the event.
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