Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad was among three US service members killed in Jordan during a July 17 attack.
NEW YORK CITY — Following reports that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was not permitted to speak at the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, a social media video emerged purporting to show the mayor refusing to applaud during the service. The footage quickly sparked online debate and criticism, leading to a closer examination of its authenticity.
Claim: Zohran Mamdani refused to clap at Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad’s funeral
The viral 10-second clip allegedly captured Mamdani keeping his hands still while the rest of the congregation applauded during Sgt. Rampersad’s funeral service on Friday, July 31, at a Queens church in Ozone Park. The service honored Rampersad, who lost her life alongside two other American service members in Jordan on July 17.
In the video, attendees dressed in formal wear and military uniforms are seen seated on a red-carpeted floor, clapping—with the exception of Mamdani. While the footage drew backlash from critics who believed it was real, others immediately questioned its validity.
Fact Check: The video is AI-generated
Investigators confirmed that the video is entirely fabricated using artificial intelligence. The clip displays several telltale signs of AI generation, including distorted hands, blurred text, and errors in military uniforms.
While the original post shared the video with a “Made with AI” label, the disclaimer was hidden unless users clicked “Show more” to expand the caption.
A genuine recording of the funeral, available on YouTube, features the same overall scene but lacks the hyper-polished, yet flawed, quality of the AI-altered version.
Zohran Mamdani barred from speaking at Sgt. Angel Rampersad’s funeral
The circulation of the fake video followed reports that Mamdani had been excluded from the lineup of speakers at the service. According to the New York Post, Mamdani sat quietly reviewing remarks on an iPad while other public figures delivered tributes, though his name was never called.
An insider close to the situation noted that the Rampersad family intentionally left Mamdani off the program to prevent any potential political distractions during the memorial.
Despite not speaking at the podium, the Mayor’s office subsequently published his intended remarks:
“It is often said that our fallen ‘gave their tomorrows for our today,'” the statement read.
“Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected.”