Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were observed smiling and appearing to laugh during a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. The incident occurred on Friday during the annual reading of victims' names, a central and solemn part of the commemoration. The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"Mamdani and AOC are spotted laughing with each other as people cry while the names of those who died are read during the 9/11 Memorial in New York City." Greg Price, X User @greg_price11
Video footage circulating online captured Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani standing together as a victim's name was being read over a loudspeaker. The two officials exchanged words before briefly smiling and laughing, then redirected their attention to the proceedings. The content of their discussion is not discernible from the available footage, and there is no evidence to suggest their laughter was directed at a victim, the name being read, or the 9/11 attacks themselves. Despite this, the timing of the interaction during such a somber moment generated considerable discussion and criticism online.
The annual National September 11 Memorial ceremony traditionally features relatives reading the names of the 2,977 people killed in the 2001 attacks, as well as the six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Many family members use their time at the microphone to share personal tributes and messages about their lost loved ones. The commemoration includes several moments of silence, beginning at 8:46 a.m., marking the precise moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. This year, organizers added a seventh moment of silence to acknowledge individuals who later died from illnesses and injuries related to exposure following the attacks.
Mayor Mamdani’s participation in the ceremony had already drawn controversy prior to Friday’s event. An online petition, initiated by relatives of 9/11 victims, urged him not to attend and garnered over 100,000 verified signatures. Organizers of the petition cited concerns regarding Mamdani’s record and associations, particularly his appointment of Ramzi Kassem as New York City’s chief counsel. Kassem had previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a Guantanamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty in connection with the 2002 bombing of the French oil tanker MV Limburg. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani also publicly called for Mamdani to refrain from attending the ceremony.
Despite these calls, Mayor Mamdani affirmed his intention to attend, stating his focus would remain on the victims, survivors, first responders, and their families. Ahead of the anniversary, Mamdani took several actions related to the commemoration. He signed executive orders establishing September 11 as an annual citywide Day of Remembrance and Service and created a new interagency initiative focused on emergency preparedness. His administration also released approximately 170,000 pages of city records concerning New York’s response to the attacks, including documents related to air quality and health concerns following the collapse of the World Trade Center. Mamdani stated that the phrase "Never Forget" represented an obligation to remember the deceased and honor those affected by the attacks through service and reflection.
On the day of the ceremony, Mamdani and Giuliani were observed exchanging a cordial greeting at Ground Zero before the commemoration began, despite their public disagreement over Mamdani's attendance. The brief interaction between Mamdani and Representative Ocasio-Cortez, however, became a focal point of online criticism due to its occurrence during the solemn name-reading portion of the memorial. The incident underscores the intense public scrutiny surrounding public officials' conduct at events of national tragedy and remembrance.
