Giuliani details handshake with New York's first Muslim mayor at 9/11 ceremony

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani told his former chief of staff that he shook hands with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the 25th-anniversary ceremony for the September 11 attacks in Manhattan. Giuliani said he believed he offered his hand first, though he acknowledged Mamdani may have initiated the greeting. He added that after the handshake he said, “I pray for you,” to which Mamdani replied, “thank you,” before they each moved on.

Giuliani said the two men likely understood the encounter could distract from the ceremony’s purpose, noting that either could have responded with hostility, which would have shifted focus away from the victims of the attacks. He praised Mamdani for shaking his hand.

Earlier in the week, Giuliani had publicly opposed Mamdani’s participation, claiming the mayor wanted his religion to dominate the city and describing Muslims as “murderers.” Other Republican figures also urged the mayor to skip the event, citing his past association with a far-left commentator who had made controversial remarks about 9/11.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist elected last year, confirmed his attendance, saying he would honor the families, survivors and first responders of the attacks. He previously released internal records about air-quality concerns at Ground Zero, stating that officials had misled the public about safety.

The mayor’s office has not responded to requests for comment.