The Democrats were seen bursting into laughter at the solemn Ground Zero event in lower Manhattan, at the same moment that mourners stood silently around them.
A relative of a victim was seen weeping on the memorial seconds before the camera cut to Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, while victims' loved ones stood on stage reading the names of the deceased.The moment quickly went viral across social media, with viewers commenting that their jovial reactions were a 'a slap in the face' to victims.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz responded on X: 'How the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9/11 are being read aloud? Why would you do so?'
It comes after Mamdani faced calls not to attend the event by 9/11 victims' groups, which he refused to honor.
Mamdani was also sharply criticized this week after he handed a ceremonial pen from a 9/11 remembrance ceremony to an attorney who once represented a convicted al-Qaeda member, and whose brother was one of the hijackers in the attacks.
A petition launched by relatives of 9/11 victims urging the mayor to avoid the annual ceremony gained over 100,000 signatures, and former New York Governor George Pataki joined calls for Mamdani to stay away.
When asked this week for his response to calls to avoid the 9/11 event, Mamdani said he would still attend, and said he wanted 'the focus to be on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11th.'New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were caught laughing together while the names of 9/11 victims were being read at Ground Zero
The Democrats were seen bursting into laughter during the solemn event on Friday morning in lower Manhattan, while mourners stood silently around them
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez smiles at the event on Friday
In the wake of the backlash towards the two politicians, some people who were at the scene disputed that Ocasio-Cortez and Mamdani were laughing at an innapropriate time.
Michael Ragusa, a correction officer working for the city, said: 'The videos of Mamdani and AOC laughing are not true. I was standing next to them the whole time. The camera just caught her greeting him hello. Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me. Republicans and Democrats.'
At the event at Ground Zero on Friday, Mamdani was also seen greeting former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani in an awkward exchange.
The pair got into a public spat after Giuliani also joined the calls for Mamdani to avoid this week's 9/11 ceremonies.
Giuliani has said the Muslim mayor's presence 'offends' him, and claimed Mamdani is 'disturbing the people who are the most important people at that celebration.'
'He stands in direct support of the movement that killed their children,' he told Newsmax last week.
As a result, Mamdani released hundreds of thousands of previously unseen records that allegedly confirmed Giuliani's administration knew about the toxic dangers of the city's air quality following the September 11 attacks.
New York City councilwoman Vickie Paladino also joined calls for Mamdani to avoid the event, as she said his presence would sent a 'message to Osama bin Laden that, look, "We conquered New York."'
Paladino cited Mamdani's decision to allow former attorney for an al-Qaeda operative, Ramzi Kassem, to take part in a recent 9/11-related signing ceremony, and specifically handing him a pen used to sign an executive order recognizing the terror attack.
'I am sick to death of all of this,' Paladino complained to Fox News' Laura Ingraham. 'We need to be able to see through this total, absolute farce that they’re trying to pawn off on New Yorkers and across the country.'
At the event at Ground Zero on Friday, Mamdani was also seen greeting former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani in an awkward exchange
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the annual event at Ground Zero on Friday, despite calls from 9/11 victims' families to stay away
Mourners gather at the 9/11 25th anniversary event at Ground Zero on Friday
Thousands of people gathered for the solemn 25th anniversary event
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Ahead of the event, the Port Authority Retired Police Association sent an open letter to Mamdani urging him to avoid Friday's event, saying his attendance would inflict 'deep pain' on victims' families.
John McDevitt, president of the retired first responders' association, wrote in the letter to the mayor: 'For us, September 11 is not a political occasion, a photo opportunity, or a platform for public officials.
'It is a solemn day of remembrance for those who were murdered, those who responded, those who survived, and the families who have carried these losses for twenty-five years.'
The police union said officers have 'profound concerns' over Mamdani's public statements and positions, which they say 'risk shifting attention away from the people whose lives, courage, and sacrifice the ceremony exists to honor.'
'This is our day to remember,' he wrote. 'Please allow us to remember in peace.'
The Daily Mail has contacted Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez's representatives for comment./-