(CNN) \u2014 A brief interaction between New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez captured on video Friday during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, sparked fierce criticism that was met with pushback from those who say the video was taken out of context.<\/p>\n
The clip of Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez at Ground Zero lasted four seconds in Friday\u2019s live video feed, which transitioned between multiple camera angles of the ceremony.<\/p>\n
In the pool footage of an isolated camera, viewed by CNN, a longer clip shows Mamdani standing with a solemn expression as the names of the attack victims are called before briefly greeting the congresswoman.<\/p>\n
Ocasio-Cortez steps up beside the mayor, places her hand on his elbow and they exchange smiles and a brief embrace, the video shows. They then exchange words and Mamdani hugs her briefly. The mayor, smiling, says something to Ocasio-Cortez, who smiles broadly. They then stand side by side as the reading of the names continues, applauding after a statement by the daughter of a police officer who died on 9\/11.<\/p>\n
CNN has reached out to representatives for Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez for comment.<\/p>\n
Their exchange has prompted debate around the moment, with some Republicans criticizing the two New York Democrats for what they called inappropriate laughter and others saying that characterization is false.<\/p>\n
The former head of security for Rudy Giuliani \u2013 who was the city\u2019s mayor during the terror attacks \u2013 said videos of the two leaders \u201claughing are not true.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michael Ragusa wrote on social media he was standing next to Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez for the entire ceremony.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe camera just caught her greeting him hello. Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me. Republicans and Democrats,\u201d Ragusa said on X.<\/p>\n
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz reposted the video clip<\/a> on X, saying, \u201cHow the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9\/11 are being read aloud?\u201d<\/p>\n Another attendee, former Democratic New York State Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou, condemned the criticism as \u201cridiculous talking points.\u201d<\/p>\n She noted most politicians don\u2019t stay for the duration of the ceremony, but Mamdani \u201cstayed for every name and even stayed after to talk to families for 45 minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n Ocasio-Cortez also stayed until the end, Niou wrote on X<\/a>, adding the brief interaction with Mamdani \u201cwas just when she walked up to him and said hello.\u201d<\/p>\n