Mayor Zohran Mamdani Insists on Attending 9/11 Remembrance Amid Growing Backlash

New York City – On Friday, Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters he will stand at the World Trade Center’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony, even though a wave of criticism has been swirling around his decision.

The backlash began after Mamdani appointed Ramzi Kassem as the city’s chief legal counsel. Kassem, it turns out, once defended a man convicted of al Qaida‑related terrorism – a brother‑in‑law of one of the hijackers who struck the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. That connection, however tenuous, has fueled anger among many who feel the mayor should have thought twice.

In fact, a petition started by a group of 9/11 families has now gathered close to 100,000 signatures, urging Mamdani to skip the ceremony altogether. Former governor George Pataki added his voice to the chorus, saying the mayor’s presence would be “inappropriate.”

Even former mayor Rudy Giuliani jumped into the fray on a Newsmax interview, saying he would be “offended” if Mamdani attended. Giuliani went further, throwing around unsubstantiated claims that Mamdani supposedly doubts the attacks were acts of terrorism – remarks many have labeled anti‑Muslim.

Despite the din, Mamdani has remained steady. He said his focus is on honoring the families who lost loved ones 25 years ago and the first‑responders who gave everything that day. “I’m proud to be the mayor of this city. I love this city, I love this country,” he said, adding that his “focus this week is on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them and on the first responders who gave everything.”

Last week, Mamdani signed two executive orders: one officially designating Sept. 11 as a citywide “Day of Remembrance and Service,” and another aimed at modernizing emergency‑preparedness protocols. Both signatures were witnessed by Kassem, which, unsurprisingly, added fuel to the fire.

Security for the ceremony is expected to be tighter than usual, with fencing and checkpoints being installed around the World Trade Center site in the days leading up to the event. Vice President J.D. Vance is slated to attend; former President Trump, however, will not be on the guest list.

Should Mamdani’s attendance proceed as planned, he would become the first Muslim mayor to join New York City’s official 9/11 ceremony – a historic moment, some argue, that could help bridge divides. Others, however, feel the symbolism is outweighed by the controversy surrounding his legal counsel’s past.

When asked for comment about Giuliani’s remarks, Mamdani replied, “I don’t have much more to add,” letting the decision speak for itself.