A circulating video clip genuinely captured New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez smiling and laughing while the names of victims were being recited at the 25th-anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 attacks.
Although the short video featuring Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez is real, it lacks essential context. Extended footage broadcast by CNN demonstrates that Mamdani was attentively listening to the reading of 9/11 victims’ names before Ocasio-Cortez approached him. Eyewitness accounts and video evidence confirm the two simply exchanged a brief greeting before turning their focus back to the solemn event.
In September 2026, allegations emerged online suggesting that progressive Democrats New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were spotted smiling and laughing together as the roll call of victims was read during the 25th-anniversary memorial of the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The accusation gained traction across multiple social media networks, including Facebook, Reddit, and X.
Prominent media outlets also reported on the controversy, such as the conservative tabloid The New York Post, cable news network Fox News, and the Israeli daily The Jerusalem Post.
Simultaneously, numerous readers reached out to our platform via email and site searches to verify whether the viral rumor was accurate.
Because the video snippet itself is genuine, the core claim is rated as true—though heavily qualified by the absence of critical context.
An examination of the Associated Press YouTube livestream of the memorial service verifies the specific instance where Ocasio-Cortez approached Mamdani, leading to a brief exchange of smiles, with Ocasio-Cortez appearing to chuckle.
However, supplementary footage provided by CNN illustrates that Mamdani was actively listening to the recitation of names prior to Ocasio-Cortez’s arrival. Both the video and statements from individuals present indicate they merely exchanged pleasantries before redirecting their attention to the proceedings.
Requests for comment sent to the offices of both Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez are currently pending, and updates will be provided if statements are issued. We also contacted witnesses who characterized the interaction as a standard greeting.
The AP broadcast spanned over four hours. Around the midway point, cameras captured an attendee appearing to grieve near the waterfall memorial pools, where the names of those lost are engraved and visitors frequently leave tributes.
As the broadcast shifted away from the mourner, the camera framed Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez interacting briefly (around the 02:08:00 timestamp):
This brief encounter took place contemporaneously with the alphabetical reading of the victims’ names.
Eyewitnesses and Unedited Footage Confirm a Quick Hello
In the wake of online criticism directed at the two politicians, witnesses stepped forward to clarify that the exchange was nothing more than a passing greeting. Among them was Michael Ragusa, head of security for former New York City Mayor and Republican Rudy Giuliani—who was in office during the 2001 attacks.
On X, Ragusa stated that he was positioned directly beside them throughout the event and witnessed Ocasio-Cortez say hello to Mamdani before both promptly refocused on the ceremony (archived):
Ragusa further noted in his social media post that other elected officials from both major parties were also seen laughing or joking nearby, though he opted not to name them when queried via email.
Similarly, former New York Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou, a Democrat, described the moment as a standard greeting on X, emphasizing that both Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez remained present for the entirety of the commemoration and maintained their focus (archived):
Additionally, CNN published broader, unedited footage capturing the moments immediately preceding and following the exchange. This context appeared to corroborate that the interaction was limited to a routine hello before returning to the memorial reading. Inquiries regarding the origin of the video were sent to the reporting journalist, and updates will follow if a response is received.
For further reading, our archives include coverage of various other topics related to 9/11, Mamdani, and Ocasio-Cortez, such as unverified claims regarding families supposedly petitioning against Mamdani’s attendance at the anniversary event.