‘A Direct Insult’ to ‘Every Family That Bled’: Mamdani Signs 9/11 EO, Hands Honorary Pen to Terrorist’s Lawyer
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has faced critically important criticism after publicly signing an executive order related to 9/11 and then symbolically handing a commemorative pen to a lawyer who previously defended an al-Qaeda terrorist involved in the attacks.Families of 9/11 victims, as well as various political figures and social media users, condemned this act as disrespectful and tone-deaf, asserting it dishonors those who lost loved ones during the terror attacks. The incident has sparked outrage, with accusations that mamdani’s actions reveal misplaced loyalties and are an insult to the victims and their families. The controversy is compounded by allegations that Mamdani’s aide, Ramzi Kassem, represented a terrorist linked to al-Qaeda, further fueling accusations of insensitivity and betrayal. Despite this backlash, Mamdani plans to attend the 25th anniversary memorial ceremony, even though critics argue he should abstain to show respect.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani found yet another way to rub salt in the wounds of 9/11 families on Friday.
Families have already gathered thousands of signatures on an online petition begging that the Muslim mayor stay away from the 25th anniversary ceremonies to honor those killed in the terrorist attacks at the site of the former World Trade Center, as noted by CBS News.
On Friday, Mamdani signed an executive order on 9/11 and made sure the symbolic pen used in the signing went to an aide who once represented an al-Qaeda terrorist linked to the 9/11 attacks, according to the New York Post.
🚨 NOW: Ugandan Mayor Mamdani is facing major backlash from victims’ families after he signed a 9/11 executive order and gave the honorary pen to a lawyer who REPRESENTED an AL-QAEDA TERRORIST connected to the Pentagon attack — NYP
The enemy is inside the gates.
The pen was… pic.twitter.com/AnfVXamkfM
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 5, 2026
“It shows exactly where his loyalties truly lie,” Republican Council Member Joann Ariola said, blasting Mamdani’s stunt as “breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful.”
“The families who lost loved ones on 9/11 have every right to be outraged. On the 25th anniversary, City Hall should be honoring their sacrifice with dignity, not forcing those families to endure yet another insult,” she added.
One social media user likewise said, “Handing the ceremonial pen from a 9/11 executive order to a lawyer who defended an Al-Qaeda terrorist isn’t just tone deaf it’s a direct insult to every family that bled on that dark day.”
“New York will never forget who our true enemies are.”
Handing the ceremonial pen from a 9/11 executive order to a lawyer who defended an Al-Qaeda terrorist isn’t just tone deaf it’s a direct insult to every family that bled on that dark day. New York will never forget who our true enemies are.
— Big Daddy (@BigDaddyekuo456) September 5, 2026
At the ceremony, Mamdani made Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch hand the pen to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, who slipped into the ceremony, grabbed his trophy, and left.
Kassem represented al-Qaeda operative Ahmed al-Darbi, who was sent to Guantanamo Bay after a 2002 conviction for terrorism. His sister married Khalid al-Mihdhar, a 9/11 hijacker who participated in the attack on the Pentagon.
🚨 YOU CANT MAKE THIS UP… Mayor Mamdani hands 9/11 memorial pen to man LINKED TO 9/11
Mamdani signed 9/11 remembrance and anti-terror orders — then handed the ceremonial pen to his chief counsel Ramzi Kassem.
Kassem previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, an al-Qaeda… pic.twitter.com/B7JS9zQS2w
— J (@JayTC53) September 5, 2026
“How can you defend a guy like that who wants to do Americans or any innocent person harm?” said Dennis Warchola, whose brother Michael, a firefighter with Ladder 5, was killed in the North Tower.
“Ramzi Kassem said he was inspired by 9/11 — not to join the fight against terrorism, but to defend the terrorists themselves. He doesn’t even belong in this country, much less in our government,” Republican Council Member Vicki Paladino said.
Hey @NYCMayor Zohran Mamdani: Will you condemn Palestinians who celebrated the deaths of 3,000 people on 9/11, try to rationalize it, or ignore it. https://t.co/WM6zW1crAZ
— Sam E. Antar (@SamAntar) September 4, 2026
“His participation in anything related to 9/11 is an insult to every New Yorker who survived that day, and indeed all Americans. But I suspect that’s the point,” he said.
One former Democratic operative said the stunt sent a message to Mamdani’s fellow travelers that any feigned sincerity for the attack that killed thousands is nothing more than pretense.
“Was it deliberate on your part to give your Muslim base a hint that this is all [nonsense] to pacify other New Yorkers?” former Democratic political consultant David Sivella asked.
From @EndJewHatred
A new CBS News interview with Zohran Mamdani is raising a few eyebrows as the Mayor appears almost giddy while discussing the deaths on 9/11. This comes as growing outcry and protests are being planned to prevent him from attending ceremonies being planned… pic.twitter.com/UwDns2pRap
— TheJewishAlly (@TheJewishAlly) September 4, 2026
Although Mamdani has said he will attend Friday’s ceremony, Paul du Quenoy, president of the Palm Beach Freedom Institute, said that “the real barbarism would be for Zohran Mamdani to showcase himself and his disgusting record on terrorism before the survivors and heroes of America’s greatest tragedy.”
“If he cannot find the wisdom to stay home or skip town, he should be banned from attending,” Quenoy wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Post.
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