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\n Photo: Michael Nagle\/Bloomberg\/Getty Images\n <\/p>\n
On Friday morning, New York City marked the somber 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks as families, politicians, and residents gathered in lower Manhattan to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the city, Pennsylvania, and Virginia that day. But while the lead-up to the solemn ceremony was frequently marred by political debate and inflammatory rhetoric, politics largely took a backseat when the day finally arrived.<\/p>\n
The assembled crowd at the 9\/11 Memorial was brimming with political figures past and present. Former presidents Barack Obama<\/a>, Joe Biden<\/a>, Bill Clinton<\/a>, and George W. Bush<\/a> were in attendance as well as Vice-President J.D. Vance and other state and city officials. The most striking scene among that crowd came when Mayor Zohran Mamdani<\/a> crossed paths with former mayor Rudy Giuliani<\/a>, amid their deepening (and largely one-sided) feud surrounding the anniversary.<\/p>\n Giuliani, who was in his final year as mayor during the September 11 attacks, caused a firestorm earlier this week as he unleashed an Islamophobic tirade<\/a> during a Newsmax interview and called on Mamdani, the city\u2019s first Muslim mayor, to skip the Friday memorial \u2014 remarks that were swiftly condemned by city and state leaders. Mamdani, who had long promised to attend the ceremony, did not respond to Giuliani\u2019s diatribe, and has focused instead on honoring the memory of the victims, taking part in memorial ceremonies for the NYPD and FDNY and other commemorations and declaring Friday a \u201cDay of Remembrance and Service.\u201d The mayor also announced the release of more than 170,000 pages of city records on the governmental response to 9\/11, a long-sought-after move in the wake of growing questions as to what officials knew and shared about air quality and safety concerns around Ground Zero following the attack.<\/p>\n News cameras captured the moment as Mamdani and Giuliani shared a brief handshake and a few words, inaudible in the recording. On social media, several people concluded<\/a> that Giuliani likely said, \u201cI\u2019ll pray for you. It\u2019s a really hard job.\u201d<\/p>\n Prior to the start of the lower Manhattan 9\/11 ceremony, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani shook hands with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had publicly called on the city\u2019s first Muslim mayor not to attend. https:\/\/t.co\/Mj0raZMjPR<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/UjFu9Yaie6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 ABC News (@ABC) September 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Mamdani was later asked by CBS News<\/a> about the encounter. \u201cHe came over and we both extended our hand and exchanged pleasantries. I think the focus for all of us is the focus on the families, focus on the first responders and to be here and hear the names of all those who were stolen from us 25 years ago and how the families have persevered through that time,\u201d he said. \u201cI am truly in awe of all that these families have given this city.\u201d<\/p>\n The ceremony itself was centered, as it always is, on those lost. A tolling bell marked the moments the hijacked airplanes struck the North and South Towers and the Pentagon, when the towers fell and as when United Flight 93 crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This year, the ceremony featured a seventh moment of silence<\/a> for the first time, honoring those who died from medical conditions and illnesses stemming from the attack. Family members read out the names of those killed 25 years ago, recounting stories of their loved ones and promising to keep their memories alive. One young boy thanked<\/a> his grandfather for blessing the city with a championship for the New York Knicks.<\/p>\n The first moment of silence marking the 9\/11 attacks was held at 8:46 a.m. when hijackers crashed an American Airlines Flight 11 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York City 25 years ago. https:\/\/t.co\/YsuWZuD1E3<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/RB6XrIJzHX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CBS News (@CBSNews) September 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In the only other hint of politics, some family members used their platform to speak directly to the lawmakers in attendance. Terry Strada, the widow of Tom Strada, criticized Saudi Arabia for its alleged role in the attacks and urged the White House to hold the nation accountable.<\/p>\n Terry Strada: “My husband, Tom Strada. You are missed more with each year that passes. But, how can it be 25 years and still we have no justice for the role that Saudi Arabia played in your murder. Yes, we finally made it into a court and have proved that the kingdom of Saudi\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Tpx27eYWZE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 CSPAN (@cspan) September 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n One man, the nephew of Lisa Marie Terry, echoed Strada\u2019s words, urging the federal government to release the unredacted files associated with the attacks:<\/p>\n A political statement just now during the 9\/11 name reading: “For 25 years, the deep state has hidden the truth about what happened.” He urged Trump: “Release the unredacted files that implicate Saudi Arabia while what’s left of the victims families are still alive to see it.” pic.twitter.com\/l5oGWY1ZtQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) September 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n And Michael Massaroli Jr., the son of Michael Massaroli, urged people to not use the death of his father and the other 9\/11 to \u201cspread hate,\u201d specifically noting the rise of hate against Muslim-Americans.<\/p>\n “My father Michael Massaroli…you do my dad’s legacy and the legacy of all these victims no honor by using this tragedy to spread hate. We have seen a medley of people come up today, of all races, all religions, all creeds and this tragedy is just that, it’s a tragedy. I’ve had\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/xRtXgZZyYn<\/a><\/p>\n