Fact Check: Did Mamdani and AOC laugh while 9/11 victims’ names were read at NY memorial?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Viral videos showing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appearing to laugh during the 25th anniversary 9/11 memorial ceremony at Ground Zero have sparked backlash online.

Some social media users accused the two politicians of laughing while officials read the names of people who died in the attacks. Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: Zohran Mamdani and AOC spotted laughing during 9/11 memorial ceremony

An X post shared a video from the 25th anniversary 9/11 memorial that showed Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez smiling and briefly interacting while officials read the victims’ names.

The post also included footage of grieving families at the memorial pools. The short clip quickly drew criticism online, with users accusing the two politicians of showing disrespect during the solemn ceremony.

Several public figures also reacted to the video. Elon Musk called the interaction troubling, while Sen. Ted Cruz questioned why they appeared to be laughing.

“Why the f–k are these two laughing?!?” Meghan McCain, former 'The View' host and daughter of late GOP Senator John McCain, wrote on X

“How the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9/11 are being read aloud? Why would you do so?” wondered Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz.

“After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep. This is NYC’s Mayor,” scolded Brooklyn Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov.

Fact Check: The claim is misleading

The claim is misleading. The footage shows Mamdani and AOC smiling and appearing to share a light moment, so the video itself is not fake.

However, the footage does not prove that they were laughing at the 9/11 victims or mocking the memorial ceremony.

An eyewitness who said he was standing beside them disputed that interpretation and said the camera captured AOC greeting Mamdani.

Other reports also noted that the clip has no audio, so the footage alone cannot show what they were discussing or why they smiled.

X user and a top member of former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's entourage Michael Ragusa wrote, “The videos of @NYCMayor and @AOC laughing are not true. I was standing next to them the whole time. The camera just caught her greeting him hello. Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me. Republicans and Democrats.”

Ragusa added, “And for the record, I am a life long republican who has been very critical of these two. I’m just sick of this fake news and people just saying whatever they want.”