Mamdani, AOC apparently caught giggling as mourners weep during 9/11 name reading ceremony

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, on Friday, September 11, were caught in an apparently lighthearted moment during the 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero, even as victims’ relatives gathered to honor those they had lost. 

Footage from the memorial showed the two New York Democrats apparently laughing as the names of the September 11 victims were being read, before the camera captured grieving family members visibly overcome with emotion.

Footage appears to show Mamdani, AOC laughing

Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez were among the political figures attending Friday’s ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where relatives of those killed in the attacks took part in the annual reading of the victims’ names.

As the solemn tribute unfolded, footage from the scene appeared to show Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez smiling and giggling together.

The camera then moved toward members of the victims’ families, several of whom could be seen crying as the names of their loved ones were announced.

Mamdani was also seen smiling as he spoke to several other Democrats present at the event.

While the relatives and other attendees appeared focused on the emotional remembrance, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez were seen sharing what appeared to be a lighthearted exchange. The footage did not establish what prompted the exchange.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President JD Vance and all four former US Presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden. 

New York Gov Kathy Hochul, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former First Lady Michelle Obama were also present.

The political figures gathered at Ground Zero observed the ceremony as families read the names of those killed in the attacks.

The Ground Zero commemoration marked 25 years since the September 11 attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people. 

The ceremony also included moments of silence marking the attacks.

Lawmakers slam Zohran Mamdani and AOC

The footage triggered a wave of criticism from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators, who accused Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez of behaving inappropriately during the solemn remembrance.

Rep Randy Fine attacked the pair on X, writing: “AOC and Mamdani should not be anywhere near that hallowed ground. They do not mourn this country, they mock it. Have some damn respect.”

Rep Wesley Hunt also condemned what he saw in the footage, writing: “This level of disrespect is incomprehensible. There is a time and a place for politics. This isn’t it.”

Hunt described Ground Zero as “sacred ground” and said the anniversary should not be treated as a “photo op” or “networking event.”

Sen Ted Cruz also reacted to the apparent laughter, asking: “How the hell do you laugh while the names of those killed on 9/11 are being read aloud? Why would you do so?”

Conservative commentator Spencer Pratt separately criticized Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, accusing them of laughing while Americans mourned.

Mamdani’s presence at Ground Zero had itself been controversial before Friday’s ceremony.

Some 9/11 victims’ families had urged the mayor not to attend, while a petition opposing his participation reportedly gathered more than 100,000 signatures.

Despite the objections, Mamdani attended the memorial ceremony alongside other city, state and federal leaders.

The footage of the mayor and Ocasio-Cortez has now added another layer of controversy to an anniversary intended to commemorate the victims and their families.