George Pataki says Mamdani should skip 9/11 memorial over Piker ties
George PatakiFormer governor of New York
Pataki said Mamdani should not attend, citing Mamdani’s continued association with Hasan Piker and Mamdani’s prior response to “globalize the intifada.”
Responding to
George Pataki said Mamdani should not attend because of Mamdani’s continuing association with Hasan Piker and his past response to the phrase “globalize the intifada.”
“Anyone who has refused to reject the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ ... should not be at that site.”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should Zohran Mamdani attend New York City’s 9/11 memorial?
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Gov. George Pataki, and some relatives of September 11 victims said Mayor Zohran Mamdani should not attend the 2026 commemoration, citing concerns about his rhetoric and associations. Mamdani said he would attend to honor victims, families, survivors, and first responders. Other elected officials and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows said excluding the sitting mayor would politicize a ceremony meant for collective remembrance. The dispute is over the civic meaning and appropriateness of attendance, not over whether Mamdani has endorsed the September 11 attacks. Mamdani attended the 25th-anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero on September 11, 2026, shaking hands with Giuliani beforehand, and no protest took place. The argument over whether he should have been there continued after the ceremony, and the case remains open to record it.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
City & State reports Pataki’s rationale, notes that Mamdani condemned Piker’s 9/11 comments and that Piker disavowed them, and records Mamdani’s commitment to attend.
Before the quotation
In a direct interview with City & State, Pataki addressed the approaching 25th-anniversary memorial and demands that Mamdani not attend.
After the quotation
City & State notes that Mamdani condemned Piker’s earlier 9/11 remark and that Piker disavowed it; the case does not treat Pataki’s rationale as independently established.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Pataki directly called for Mamdani to skip the memorial.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Zohran Mamdani
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- George Pataki says Mamdani should skip 9/11 memorial over Piker ties
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The Dispute Index. "George Pataki says Mamdani should skip 9/11 memorial over Piker ties". First published: 2026-09-09. Last updated: 2026-09-30. https://disputeindex.com/events/185-pataki-said-mamdani-should-not-attend-citing-mamdani