Trump calls the Mamdani-AOC laughing moment "terrible"
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States
President Trump called it "terrible" that Mamdani and AOC were seen laughing together during part of the September 11 memorial ceremony, calling it inappropriate.
“I think it's terrible. It's not a place to be laughing... the fact that they were laughing together at a very important part of the ceremony was inappropriate.”
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
Report on Trump's remarks to reporters departing Shannon Airport, Ireland, condemning Mamdani and AOC for laughing during the September 11 memorial.
Before the quotation
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac departing Shannon Airport, Ireland, Sunday, September 13, 2026.
After the quotation
No further public follow-up had been reported as of this writing.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
Trump directly condemns the laughing moment between Mamdani and AOC at the memorial as inappropriate, a direct criticism relevant to the case's scrutiny of Mamdani's conduct at the memorial.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Zohran Mamdani
More from this case
Read the full caseEmma Vigeland calls Mamdani's handshake with Giuliani at the 9/11 ceremony masterful
“To recap: 1) Giuliani went on a racist rant about Muslims and said he'd be "offended" if Mamdani attended the 9/11 ceremony 2) Mamdani released thousands of documents on 9/11 air quality that implicate Giuliani 3) Mamdani shakes his hand with a smile at the ceremony Masterful.”Read statement
Chris Hayes says Mamdani modelled "civility and grace" by showing up and shaking hands
“Too many people online seem to conflate left politics with being obnoxious and scathing and Mamdani is such a model for combining a principled ideological vision with civility and grace. You shake hands, you act like a grown up even whether others aren't. You show up.”Read statement
Giuliani gives his own account of the Mamdani handshake, offers praise
“So we shook hands and I said to him, 'I pray for you,' and he said 'thank you' ... I commend him also for shaking hands with me.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Trump calls the Mamdani-AOC laughing moment "terrible"". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/808-president-trump-called-it-terrible-that-mamdani-and