Giuliani Urges Mamdani to Skip 9/11 Memorial Events

Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is calling for current mayor Zohran Mamdani to sit out this year's 9/11 remembrance. In a Newsmax appearance Sunday, the ex-mayor argued Mamdani shouldn't attend events marking the 25th anniversary of the attacks, comparing him to the hijackers and accusing him—without evidence—of backing a supposed Muslim plot to seize control of parts of the US and Europe, a conspiracy theory Giuliani has promoted before, the New York Times reports, labeling his speech "an anti-Muslim diatribe."

This makes Giuliani the highest-profile figure echoing a conservative push, now backed by an online petition with nearly 100,000 signatures, urging Mamdani to skip the ceremonies. Mamdani's office declined to respond directly, pointing to his earlier pledge to "proudly honor" victims, families, survivors, and first responders by participating in this year's commemoration. The mayor recently signed orders creating an annual citywide day of remembrance and service on Sept. 11 and updating emergency preparedness, and has already attended or scheduled about a dozen related memorial events, largely at firehouses that lost members. Giuliani, who attributes health problems partly to toxic dust exposure on 9/11, is expected to attend the ceremonies as well.