New York Governor Kathy Hochul came to the defense of Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, pushing back against former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's demand that Mamdani stay away from the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks. In a statement posted to X, Hochul stressed that the day should be about national unity, not political division.
"Division should not prevail over the spirit of unity that brought us together after September 11th," Hochul wrote. "On this 25th anniversary, we should honor those we lost by coming together again as New Yorkers and Americans. The Mayor of New York City will be there, as he should be."
Giuliani, who was mayor during the 2001 attacks, has repeatedly urged Mamdani to skip the ceremony, citing the mayor's appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city's top legal counsel. Kassem previously represented a convicted al-Qaeda operative whose brother-in-law was among the 19 hijackers responsible for the attacks. That decision has sparked a petition from some 9/11 families demanding Mamdani's absence, with organizers claiming the mayor supports people "dismissive of American institutions or insufficiently critical of extremist ideologies."
Giuliani, who has also promoted unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about Mamdani's connections to the attacks, said the mayor's presence at the event would be offensive. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from Mamdani's allies, who view them as politically motivated attacks.
Mamdani, for his part, has dismissed the allegations and the petition, telling reporters Monday that the focus should remain on the victims and heroes of that tragic day. "The focus leading up to Friday's commemoration should be about the families of those killed 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror on Sept. 11," he said. "And a focus also on the first responders who gave everything they could to this city and to the people who came together to try and help their fellow New Yorkers."
The mayor added that he will attend the memorial as he did last year, emphasizing the importance of honoring the courage shown by New Yorkers in the aftermath of the attacks. When pressed on Giuliani's remarks, Mamdani said he "did not have much more to add."
The controversy comes as the city prepares for a solemn milestone, with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and four of the five living former presidents expected to attend the Ground Zero ceremony. Trump, however, will instead speak at the Pentagon, which was also targeted on 9/11, marking the second year he has chosen that venue. He and Vance attended the Ground Zero event in 2024.
Hochul's intervention underscores the political stakes for Mamdani, who has faced scrutiny over his progressive policies, including his recent decision to halt generative AI in NYC schools. The governor's support may help shield the mayor from further backlash, but the dispute highlights the deep divisions that still surround the legacy of 9/11.
Giuliani's attacks have also drawn comparisons to his own controversial post-9/11 behavior, including his promotion of baseless claims about the attacks. Critics argue that his attempts to politicize the anniversary are out of step with the spirit of unity that defined the city in the days following the tragedy.
As the ceremony approaches, Mamdani's office has signaled that he will focus on honoring the memories of those lost and the sacrifices of first responders. "My focus will be on attending events that memorialize that incredible courage," he said, "and I will be there on Friday at the memorial just as I was last year."
