New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to attend the city's 9/11 memorial ceremony on September 11, despite calls from critics, including former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and a petition signed by over 98,000 people, for him to stay away. The organizers of the petition cite concerns that the mayor's views and past associations do not demonstrate adequate respect for the victims of the 2001 attacks.
Mamdani stated at a news conference that he will "proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders … by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration." However, some family members of 9/11 victims have indicated they will not attend if Mamdani is present.
Critics point to Mamdani's past statements and associations as reasons for their opposition. These include his refusal to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," his appearance in October 2025 with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and his past assertions that the U.S. government radicalized al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki. Mamdani also endorsed Darializa Aria Chevalier, a congressional candidate who organized with Columbia University's Students for Justice in Palestine and was present during pro-Palestine protests at Columbia.
Further compounding the criticism are Mamdani's endorsements of Aber Kawas, a state senate candidate who described 9/11 as a manifestation of "capitalism and racism and White supremacy," and his association with podcaster Hasan Piker, who reportedly stated that "America deserved 9/11." Additionally, Mamdani appointed Ramzi Kassem as city chief counsel, a lawyer who has defended individuals connected to terrorist organizations.
Mamdani's father, Columbia professor Mahmood Mamdani, has previously suggested that suicide bombers could be considered "a category of soldier rather than condemned and stigmatized."
The controversy comes after Mamdani was reportedly met with jeers at an NYPD gathering on Staten Island on August 4, with some attendees shouting "Get off my island!" and "Get out of here!" He left the event shortly after arriving at the podium.
In 2001, then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was a central figure in consoling victims' families and first responders in the aftermath of the attacks. He has publicly expressed his concerns regarding Mamdani's planned attendance at this year's solemn commemoration.