Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said he shook hands with current Mayor Zohran Mamdani at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony on Friday because it was the appropriate gesture for the occasion. Giuliani, 82, who was recognized for his leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, said he approached Mamdani, 34, after they found themselves facing each other.
“I pray for you all the time,” Giuliani told Mamdani, according to his account. Mamdani responded with a “Thank you,” Giuliani stated.
Giuliani had previously urged Mamdani not to attend the ceremony, expressing concern that Mamdani did not believe the Sept. 11 attacks were an act of Islamic terrorism against the United States. Mamdani had appeared on a podcast hosted by Hasan Piker, who had previously stated that "America deserved 9/11."
“We realized that if either one of us turned our backs [on the other], that would have been the story,” Giuliani said of the handshake. He added that Mamdani's decision to remain for the entire event warranted credit. “The whole event would have been different.”
Giuliani described the interaction as an act of respect for the victims' families and the solemnity of the occasion. He acknowledged that their political differences remain significant but praised Mamdani for his presence throughout the ceremony.
Despite the handshake, Giuliani reiterated his concern about Mamdani associating with individuals who hold views critical of the United States' role in the events of 9/11.