Mamdani to attend 9/11 ceremony as NYC’s first Muslim mayor, drawing backlash

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is set to attend the city’s main 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Friday, becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York to participate in the annual commemoration despite criticism from some victims’ families, Republicans and former mayor Rudy Giuliani.

As reported by ABC News, Mamdani confirmed that he would attend the ceremony as well as other events marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks. He said his priority would be standing with the families of those killed and honouring the first responders who helped the city during the attacks.

“I’m proud to be the mayor of this city. I love this city. I love this country,” Mamdani said during an event in Brooklyn. He said the anniversary should focus on families who lost loved ones and the first responders who gave everything to help others.

Giuliani objects to Mamdani’s attendance

The decision has brought Mamdani into direct conflict with Giuliani, who was New York mayor when the attacks took place and is also expected to attend Friday’s ceremony.

In an interview with Newsmax over the weekend, Giuliani said Mamdani should not attend, saying his presence would offend him. Giuliani also made remarks linking Mamdani’s Muslim faith to the ideology of the 9/11 attackers, including claims about the mayor’s views on Islam that critics have described as baseless and anti-Muslim.

Mamdani and his office have declined to respond directly to Giuliani’s comments.

Dispute over legal counsel

The backlash has also focused on Mamdani’s appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city’s chief legal counsel. Critics have highlighted Kassem’s previous representation of a convicted Al Qaeda member whose brother-in-law was among the hijackers involved in the September 11 attacks.

A petition backed by relatives of 9/11 victims calling on Mamdani to stay away from the ceremony has gathered close to 100,000 signatures, according to supporters. Former New York Governor George Pataki has also opposed his attendance.

Mamdani has instead sought to emphasise the city’s remembrance of the victims. Last week, he signed an executive order designating September 11 as an annual “Day of Remembrance and Service”, including a moment of silence, while a second order established a task force focused on emergency preparedness. Kassem was present when the orders were signed, drawing further criticism.

25 years after the attacks

Friday’s ceremony at the World Trade Center site will include the reading of the names of nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks. Former US presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama are among the dignitaries expected to attend.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the White House in New York, while President Donald Trump is not scheduled to attend the main ceremony and is expected to commemorate the attacks at the Pentagon.