Zohran Mamdani
Role at the time: Mayor of New York City
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Mamdani described a brief, cordial exchange with Giuliani at the ceremony and said the focus should be on victims' families and first responders.
“He came over and we both extended our hands and exchanged pleasantries... I think the focus for all of us is a focus on the families, a focus on first responders and to be here and hear the names of all those who were stolen from us 25 years ago and how the families have persevered through that time. I am truly in awe of all that these families have given us.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)New video shows interaction between NYC Mayor Mamdani and AOC at 9/11 ceremony after the moment sparked debate
CNN's detailed account of the Mamdani-Giuliani handshake and the disputed Mamdani-AOC clip, including direct quotes from Mamdani, Ragusa, Cruz, and Niou.
Why we used this label
Mamdani's account of a graceful, low-key interaction with Giuliani and his redirection of focus to victims' families implicitly defends his choice to attend as appropriate and non-disruptive, consistent with his earlier stated reasons for attending.