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By Hannah Parry
Associate News Editor
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Former New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa has come to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s defense amid calls for him to stay away from this year’s 9/11 memorial ceremony.
Sliwa, the Republican who unsuccessfully ran against Mamdani in last year's mayoral election, was asked by reporters Thursday about the efforts to keep Mamdani from attending the event to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
“Ridiculous,” Sliwa said. “He's the mayor. Stop being sore losers.”
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Why Are Critics Asking Mamdani to Stay Away From 9/11 Ceremony?
Multiple Republican lawmakers have suggested that Mamdani should not attend the ceremony commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, after a group of victims' relatives petitioned the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to exclude the New York City mayor, citing his positions on Israel. A petition against his presence has gained more than 85,000 signatures.
Senator John Kennedy, Republican of Louisiana, told Fox News that if Mamdani attends, “It might be appropriate if he goes while wearing a paper bag over his head.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, added, “I mean, I can't defend anything that guy says or does.”
Republican Senators Tim Sheehy and Deb Fischer also criticized Mamdani, with Sheehy claiming without evidence that the mayor had "platformed Islamic extremism" and "openly supports Hamas, as does his wife." Fischer added that she thought Mamdani had said some "pretty disgusting things" and she believed he is "going to talk like that more and more.”
“I would equate this to a wake. You don't go to a wake if you're not welcome,” said Bruce Blakeman, Republican Nassau County executive and candidate for New York governor, adding that those in attendance should turn their backs on Mamdani if he shows up.
Meanwhile, Mamdani has made clear that he plans to attend the ceremony despite the campaign against him.
“I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration," he said, adding that his attendance would reaffirm that “we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who calls this city home and, frankly, all of us who call this country home.”
There has also been a notable counter-response from some 9/11 families. Elizabeth Miller, whose father died in the attacks and who has attended the annual ceremony for years, said: “Mayor Mamdani has assured 9/11 families that he wants to be there to honor our loved ones, and I think he should be allowed to do that.”
Miller said the debate should not overwhelm the purpose of the ceremony: “The focus really shouldn't be on who's there, who's not there. It should be on our loved ones.”
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, where Miller is project director, also condemned what it described as the “anti-American accusations and Islamophobic sentiment” behind the campaign.
The 9/11 Memorial & Museum has itself sought to keep the commemoration above partisan politics, saying it has “intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics because remembering those we lost on 9/11 should never be a partisan issue.”
The controversy follows criticism of Mamdani over his decision to miss a separate memorial ceremony for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing earlier this year. He instead traveled to Washington, D.C., where he met with President Donald Trump over an affordable housing proposal.
Sliwa and Mamdani Were Once Political Rivals
Sliwa and Mamdani spent much of 2025 on opposite sides of the mayoral race, trading attacks over everything from public safety to Israel and immigration. In the final debate, Sliwa mocked Mamdani's limited political experience, telling him, “Zohran, your résumé could fit on a cocktail napkin.” Mamdani, meanwhile, sharply criticized Sliwa's positions and campaign rhetoric.
But the relationship was considerably less hostile than their rivalry might suggest. At one point during the campaign, Mamdani was asked how he would rank Sliwa if New York used ranked-choice voting. Mamdani said he would put Sliwa second. Sliwa responded, “Don't be glazing me here, Zohran,” prompting laughter from Mamdani and the audience.
The pair also found themselves on the same side of the race in opposing efforts to push Sliwa out of the contest so that anti-Mamdani voters could consolidate behind another candidate. Sliwa refused to leave the race despite pressure from Republicans and wealthy donors, while Mamdani acknowledged that he would have ranked Sliwa ahead of Cuomo.
After Mamdani won the election, the former rivals' relationship became noticeably more cordial. Sliwa eventually called Mamdani to congratulate him after conceding the race, and the pair later appeared together in a comedy sketch at New York's Inner Circle dinner. Sliwa subsequently defended Mamdani against critics, making Thursday's comment about the 9/11 ceremony the latest example of the unlikely rapport between the former opponents.
Mamdani's Support Remains Strong in New York
The dispute comes as Mamdani continues to maintain substantial support among New York City voters, even as his administration faces criticism from opponents.
Recent Siena Research polling puts his citywide favorability at 69 percent, although his support is also sharply polarized across different groups.
The latest numbers are a marked change from the early months of his political rise. Siena's polling showed Mamdani with only 30 percent favorable and 38 percent unfavorable ratings among Black New York voters in September, before he took office. The figures have since shifted to 78 percent favorable with only 15 percent unfavorable.
Sore Losers? Cuomo, Democrats and Republicans Keep Taking Aim at Mamdani
Sliwa's “sore losers” jab comes against the backdrop of a political establishment that has struggled to adjust to Mamdani's rapid rise.
Few examples are more obvious than former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who lost the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary to Mamdani but continued his campaign as an independent. Cuomo ultimately lost the general election as well, with Mamdani winning the mayoralty.
During the campaign, Cuomo repeatedly attacked Mamdani's experience and political views. He argued that Mamdani was the “wrong choice for New York,” while presenting himself as the more experienced alternative.
Cuomo's opposition has continued beyond Election Day. His attacks have included some of the most inflammatory rhetoric directed at Mamdani during the campaign, including a 2025 radio appearance in which he entertained a host's suggestion about Mamdani's response to another 9/11 attack.
Mamdani's victories have also increasingly challenged the Democratic Party's traditional power structure. In June, three congressional candidates backed by Mamdani defeated establishment-backed rivals in New York Democratic primaries, prompting Reuters to describe the results as a “political earthquake.” Centrist Democrats responded by warning against treating Mamdani's success as a model for the entire party, while Senator John Fetterman has been among those openly attacking the direction of the movement.
The resistance isn't confined to Democrats.
Republicans have made Mamdani a frequent target, particularly over his progressive economic agenda and positions on Israel. Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov has been among his most vocal critics. In July, she described Mamdani bluntly as “a liar” and “a fake.”
Blakeman has also made Mamdani a central target of his campaign, promising voters that “I will stop him,” while attacking the mayor's proposals for government-run grocery stores and higher taxes.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Edward T. Cummins.
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