“How the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9/11 are being read aloud? Why would you do so?
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Four Seconds of a Ground Zero Live Feed Become the Fight of the 25th Anniversary — Ted Cruz Asks "How the Hell Do You Laugh," Randy Fine Says AOC and "Jihadi Mamdani" Should Not Be "Anywhere Near That Hallowed Ground," and a Lifelong Republican Who Was Standing Next to Them Says the Camera "Just Caught Her Greeting Him Hello"
September 11, 2026
On the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the live television feed from the Ground Zero name-reading cut from a young man sobbing to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who appeared to smile and laugh as they spoke. The clip ran four seconds and carried no audio of what they said. Within hours Sen. Ted Cruz had reposted it, and Reps. Randy Fine, Wesley Hunt and Nancy Mace, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov had all put out statements. Fine called the mayor "Jihadi Mamdani." Mace suggested the two should leave public service. The account did not hold up. Michael Ragusa, a lifelong Republican and a former security chief for Rudy Giuliani who was standing beside the pair, said the reports were "not true" and that the camera "just caught her greeting him hello," adding that politicians of both parties behind him had been talking and laughing. Former Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou said Mamdani stayed for every name and spoke with families for 45 minutes afterward. Mamdani's office said: "He came over and we both extended our hands and exchanged pleasantries." The same day, and largely from the same outlets, Trump drew his own criticism: at the Pentagon ceremony he attended instead of Ground Zero, the 80-year-old president repeatedly closed his eyes for long stretches as Hegseth spoke and as the names were read. The White House said anyone claiming he was asleep "is lying."
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Statements Recorded
See what your representatives said?
8 Statements
“AOC and Jihadi Mamdani should not be anywhere near that hallowed ground. They do not mourn this country, they mock it. Have some damn respect.
“As the names of Americans murdered on September 11th are read aloud at Ground Zero, AOC and Mamdani are laughing and smiling together. There is a time and a place for politics. This isn’t it. Ground Zero is sacred ground.
“If laughing at Ground Zero while names are being read during the 25th anniversary of 9/11 is your thing, perhaps public service isn’t your calling.
“Mamdani and AOC seem to be having the time of their lives while everyone else is paying respects to the deceased.
“After thousands of families of victims of terror beg Mamdani not to show up, he stands there and laughs while families weep. This is NYC’s Mayor.
“He came over and we both extended our hands and exchanged pleasantries.
“President Trump was solemnly listening and remembering the victims and heroic first responders who tragically lost their lives on that fateful day. Anyone ridiculously claiming the President was asleep is lying.
Background (2)— earlier statements that set the stage▸
“We can’t restore what was taken from us that day, but we can make and continue to hold a solemn promise, never to forget. May we always serve and live in a manner worthy of that sacrifice.
“Twenty-five years later, we have a sacred obligation to those who were stolen from us. To care for one another as they cared for strangers.