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.”
Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, and some September 11 victims’ relatives opposed Zohran Mamdani attending the 2026 memorial, citing his rhetoric and associations. Mamdani said he would honor victims; other elected officials and a family group said excluding the sitting mayor would politicize the commemoration.
