New York mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday declined to condemn political streamer Hasan Piker for a past comment that “America deserved 9/11,” prompting sharp criticism from first responders and political opponents as the city approaches the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman and the Democratic nominee in the mayoral race, was asked about his April interview with Piker by reporters before a Bronx press conference about World Cup ticket prices. He said he was there to discuss the event and did not directly address Piker’s remark.
The response drew immediate condemnation from Oren Barzilay, president of EMS Local 2507, which represents about 4,100 paramedics and EMTs in New York City. Barzilay called Mamdani “cowardly” for not answering the question and said the relationship with Piker was “outrageous” given the sensitivity around 9/11, when nearly 3,000 people were killed.
"For him to associate with someone who thinks we deserved 9/11 is outrageous and should not be tolerated. It shows that Mamdani possibly feels the same way — that America deserved it," Barzilay said. Sal Turturici, a former FDNY EMT who responded at Ground Zero and now suffers from stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer, and his wife publicly criticized Mamdani and endorsed rival Andrew Cuomo.
Several other former first responders also weighed in. Tom Von Essen, who was Fire Department commissioner during and after the attacks, said he would not associate with Piker and added, "If he did, I’d like to punch him in the face." Jim McAffrey, a former fire lieutenant on duty during 9/11, described Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the comment as "just pathetic," and Debra Burlingame, sister of the pilot of one of the hijacked planes, said the stance was not leadership.
Mamdani’s campaign pushed back that Cuomo’s campaign had raised the interview in an effort to mount what it described as an anti-Muslim smear; Mamdani is Muslim. The candidate redirected his brief exchange with reporters to criticize Cuomo, saying the former governor was out of touch with "the politics of the future." Mamdani’s team also noted that his April interview with Piker was a sit-down conversation and has been cited by opponents as politically damaging.
Cuomo and his allies have used the interview to question Mamdani’s judgment in recent days, and the union that backed Cuomo in the June Democratic primary has continued to be a vocal critic. Online commentators additionally flagged that Mamdani has for years used similar statements to commemorate the Sept. 11 anniversary in his capacity as an assemblyman.
The controversy comes as New York prepares to mark the solemn anniversary and while the city is hosting the upcoming World Cup matches, the subject of Mamdani’s press appearance on Wednesday. Piker, a prominent left-leaning streamer, has drawn scrutiny previously for provocative remarks and social media posts, including material tied to the Jan. 6, 2025, events that critics labeled inflammatory.
The mayoral campaign is expected to remain focused on security, public-safety union support and personal conduct as central issues in the weeks ahead. Mamdani’s refusal to directly condemn Piker's comment adds a flashpoint to the race shortly before the anniversary, when many victims' families and first-responder groups will hold memorial events.
Mamdani has not issued a follow-up statement clarifying his position on Piker’s remark. Campaigns for Mamdani and for Cuomo did not immediately provide additional comment outside their public remarks on Wednesday.