AOC, Mamdani interaction caught on cam at 9/11 memorial sparks online fury

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., were lambasted Friday for appearing to share a moment of levity at the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan during the solemn reading-of-the-names of victims.

Mamdani was already facing criticism from some 9/11 victims’ families over his attendance when a television feed showing the reading of victims’ names cut from a young man sobbing at the memorial to the mayor and congresswoman appearing to grin and laugh as they spoke, though their conversation was inaudible.

"Disgraceful," said Steve Guest, a former top staffer for Sen.

Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

"AOC and Mamdani look happy." MAMDANI HEADS TO 9/11 MEMORIAL DESPITE 110,000-SIGNATURE PUSH FROM VICTIMS’ FAMILIES TO STAY AWAY "They always show us who they really are," another critic on X said.

Others critics were more direct.

"Why the f--- are these two laughing?" asked Meghan McCain , daughter of the late Sen.

John McCain, R-Ariz.

FAMILIES OF 9/11 VICTIMS' MESSAGE TO MAMDANI: 'PLEASE DO NOT COME' TO MEMORIAL CEREMONY However, a top member of former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's entourage claimed on X the video was taken out of context.

"The videos of [them] laughing are not true.

I was standing next to them the whole time," tweeted Michael Ragusa , reportedly head of Giuliani's security as of 2025, according to WPIX-11 .

"The camera just caught her greeting him hello.

Multiple other politicians were laughing and joking behind me.