The New York Post on Wednesday published an opinion urging mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani to issue an unequivocal condemnation of the perpetrators of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without attaching blame to the United States or Israel.
The column framed Mamdani, a Democratic socialist who has led some New York City mayoral polls, as a figure whose past remarks and associations complicate the expectation that he would deliver an unambiguous denunciation of the attacks. The Post wrote that the candidate has not publicly addressed the upcoming anniversary on the campaign trail in a manner the paper deemed decisive.
The column cited several episodes it said raise questions about Mamdani’s stance. It noted that Mamdani participated in an April meeting and photographed a handshake with online commentator Hasan Piker, whom the Post said has publicly stated the United States “deserved” the 9/11 attacks. The opinion also referenced past instances in which Mamdani declined to fully disavow the slogan “Globalize the intifada,” saying he would “discourage” its use rather than issue a categorical denunciation.
The Post further referenced Mamdani’s past associations with academics and commentators whose statements the paper described as critical of U.S. policy around the time of the attacks. The column said Mamdani criticized federal surveillance of Anwar al-Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric who became an al Qaeda-affiliated figure. The paper also pointed to Mamdani’s connections with As’ad Abu Khalil, whom the Post characterized as having blamed the United States for the 2001 attacks.
The opinion piece invoked the scale and legacy of the Sept. 11 attacks, noting that 2,996 people were killed, that vast downtown property damage followed the strikes and that many first responders and others exposed at Ground Zero have since experienced serious long-term health problems. The Post recalled its own coverage supporting the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site and said the anniversary remains a moment of particular sensitivity for New Yorkers.
The Post argued the anniversary is an opportunity for Mamdani to address concerns about his record and associations directly. The column said the candidate’s silence, as presented by the paper, leaves open questions for voters about how he will speak about terrorism and public safety if elected.
Mamdani, a Democrat who has drawn attention for progressive positions on housing, policing and economic policy, has risen in some polls in the crowded mayoral field. His campaign has not been quoted in the Post column. The candidate’s public statements on the anniversary and related issues have been a subject of scrutiny in opinion coverage but are not detailed by the paper as an official campaign response.
As New York marks the 24th anniversary of the attacks, public attention on candidates’ remarks and records is likely to persist. The Post’s column frames the moment as a litmus test for Mamdani’s ability to condemn the attacks without qualifiers; other outlets and political observers may assess his record and comments in varying ways as the campaign continues.