Mamdani Visits Ground Zero: Unexpected Move from Giuliani Who Said 'Don't Come'

The memorial ceremony held at Ground Zero for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks in New York took place under the shadow of political debates that have been unfolding for days. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose name had been collected in more than 100,000 signatures to protest his attendance, nevertheless joined the memorial program despite all calls. One of the day’s most striking moments was the handshake between Mamdani and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had shown him a harsh reaction.

Attended the Ceremony Despite 100,000 Signatures

Whether Mamdani would attend the September 11 memorial ceremony had been on New York’s agenda for days. While more than 100,000 signatures were collected in an online campaign against him, it was desired that Mamdani not attend the program at Ground Zero.

One of the prominent figures in the debate was Rudy Giuliani, who served as New York City Mayor during the September 11 2001 attacks. Giuliani had opposed Mamdani’s presence at the memorial ceremony, issuing strong statements.

Mamdani, however, did not back down in the face of the backlash. He had stated that the memorial week should be dedicated to those who lost their lives in the attacks, their families, and first‑responder teams, rather than to political debates, and that he would attend the ceremony.

Arrived at Ground Zero

On the morning of September 11, Mamdani came to Ground Zero for the memorial program organized to mark the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

At the ceremony attended by the families of the victims, first‑responder teams, and numerous officials, the names of those who lost their lives in the September 11 attacks were read, and a moment of silence was observed at the times the attacks occurred.

Mamdani did not give a speech at the ceremony. He followed the memorial program together with the victims' relatives, first‑responder teams, and officials.

Giuliani, who said 'Don't come', shook hands.

However, one of the most striking images from the ceremony occurred before the program.

Rudy Giuliani, who had openly opposed Mamdani's participation in the Ground Zero memorial days earlier, met Mamdani at the ceremony site. The two men shook hands and spoke briefly in front of the cameras.

The talks concluded peacefully after days of heated debate, producing a striking image.

On one side stood the campaign demanding Mamdani’s participation in the debate, which had gathered more than 100,000 signatures; on the other, Giuliani shook hands with Mamdani at Ground Zero, one of the movement’s most fervent supporters.

No major tension as expected.

Because of the debates that took place before Mamdani’s participation, the crowd was turned into a place of mourning. However, according to the information received so far, no serious incident resulting in a large‑scale fight or detention in the mourning area because of Mamdani’s participation has occurred.

Although objections and protests against Mamdani have not entirely ceased, the expected image of heightened tension at the Ground Zero memorial program, following days of harsh rhetoric, did not materialize.

Symbolic Square After Days of Ongoing Debate

The handshake between Giuliani and Mamdani became one of the most striking moments of the 25th anniversary from a political point of view.

During the 2001 attacks, Giuliani, who was New York's mayor, and Mamdani, who sits in the same seat today, drew attention when they shook hands at Ground Zero despite the intense political tension between them.

Thus, after days of debating whether Mamdani would attend the ceremony in New York, the answer was given at Ground Zero: Mamdani attended the ceremony despite more than 100,000 signatures, while Giuliani, who had called for him to 'not come', shook his hand in the memorial area.