Mayor Zohran Mamdani Insists on Attending New York City's 9/11 Remembrance Despite Growing Pushback

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Friday that he will stand beside the twin towers’ memorial on September 11, a decision that has sparked a wave of criticism from some families of the victims and a handful of high‑profile Republicans.

The controversy hinges on Mamdani’s recent appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city’s chief legal counsel. Kassem once represented a man convicted of al‑Qaeda‑related terrorism; the defendant’s brother‑in‑law was among the hijackers who struck the Pentagon on that fateful day. For many, that connection feels too close for comfort.

A petition urging the mayor to skip the ceremony has gathered close to 100,000 signatures, according to its organizers. Former Governor George Pataki added his name to the chorus, saying Mamdani’s presence would be “inappropriate.” Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani went further, telling Newsmax he would be “offended” if Mamdani attended, and even suggested—without evidence—that the mayor doubts the attacks were acts of terrorism.

Undeterred, Mamdani said his focus is on honoring the families who lost loved ones and the first responders who gave everything they could. “I’m proud to be the mayor of this city. I love this city, I love this country, and this week I want to focus on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago, and on the first responders who gave everything,” he said.

Last week Mamdani signed two executive orders: one designating September 11 as a citywide Day of Remembrance and Service, and another aimed at modernizing emergency‑preparedness protocols. Kassem stood beside the mayor during the signing, a detail that fed additional criticism.

If he goes ahead, Mamdani would become the first Muslim mayor to attend New York City’s official 9/11 remembrance ceremony—a tradition upheld by every mayor before him. Security around the World Trade Center site is being tightened with fencing and checkpoints, and Vice President JD Vance is expected to join the ceremony, while President Trump has chosen not to attend.

When asked about Giuliani’s remarks, Mamdani offered a brief response: “I don’t have much more to add.” The stage is set for a solemn day of memory, service, and—unfortunately—a continuing debate over politics, identity, and how the city honors its past.