'They are very unhappy': Trump backs 9/11 families opposing Zohran Mamdani's memorial attendance

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, July 29, that many families of victims of the September 11 attacks are "very unhappy" with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, weighing in on growing calls for the mayor not to attend this year's 25th anniversary memorial ceremony.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about an online petition launched by relatives of 9/11 victims urging organizers to exclude Mamdani from the commemorative event.

The president said he understood their concerns, arguing that many people connected to the attacks were dissatisfied with the mayor.

Trump backs 9/11 families against Zohran Mamdani

When asked about the campaign against Mamdani's attendance, Trump said he believed families directly affected by the attacks were struggling with the mayor's leadership.

"Well, I think they're having a hard time with Mamdani. I mean, the people having to do with anybody having to do with 9/11 right now, on the victim side, and there are a lot of them, they're very unhappy with what's going on in New York, and they're very unhappy with the mayor. I understand that," Trump said.

His remarks came as an online petition calling for Mamdani to be excluded from the September 11 ceremony continued to gain support.

The petition was launched by Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace Catherine Galante, was killed in the attacks while working on the 105th floor of the North Tower.

Galante said he and another family member of a victim started the petition because they believed Mamdani's attendance would be inappropriate, citing concerns over his public positions and associations.

As of Wednesday, July 29, the petition had received more than 45,000 signatures.

Zohran Mamdani vows to attend 9/11 memorial 

The petition asks organizers of the annual remembrance ceremony to reconsider Mamdani's participation, arguing that the event should reflect what it describes as shared American values and raising concerns over the mayor's response to certain political rhetoric.

Several relatives of 9/11 victims backed the petition. Monica Iken Murphy, who lost her husband in the attacks, said the anniversary should remain focused on victims' families and survivors. 

Others opposed excluding the mayor. Dennis McKeon, who leads a Staten Island-based 9/11 survivors group, said elected officials have attended past commemorations despite criticism and argued that everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Responding to the controversy, Mamdani said he intended to attend the commemoration and honor those impacted by the attacks.

"I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration, reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home and, frankly, by all of us who called this country home," the mayor said.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum also said the annual ceremony is intended to remain free of politics, noting that elected officials from across the political spectrum attend only to pay their respects and do not deliver remarks during the event.