• GOP senators backing 9/11 families
• Petition to keep Zohran Mamdani away from Ground Zero ceremony
• Claims about condemnations of extremism and related concerns
• Sharp reactions from Republican lawmakers
• Mamdani’s planned attendance and the families’ push for respect
Republican senators are lining up behind a petition from 9/11 families who want New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani kept out of the 25th anniversary remembrance at Ground Zero. The effort has grown fast, drawing tens of thousands of signatures and turning a solemn anniversary into yet another flashpoint over respect, memory, and political judgment.
The petition asks the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to leave Mamdani off the guest list, arguing that his presence would clash with the meaning of the event. At the center of the backlash are long-running claims that he has not clearly condemned Islamic extremism in the way critics believe he should, especially given the weight of the day and the families involved.
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., did not hold back, saying, “It might be appropriate if he goes while wearing a paper bag over his head,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said, “I mean I can’t defend anything that guy says or does,”. Those comments captured the mood among several Republicans, who treated the situation less like a protocol dispute and more like a question of basic decency.
Other GOP senators framed the issue around the grief of the families rather than Mamdani’s office. Sen. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., said, “His opinions on America’s place in the world are pretty different than probably most of those families feel,” which reflected the larger view that this ceremony should not become a stage for someone many mourners see as hostile to their values.
The petition itself lays out several objections, including allegations that Mamdani has never directly rejected the phrase “globalize the intifada,” and that he has aligned with figures seen by critics as extremist or anti-American. It also points to his father’s controversial remarks and broader concerns about the political and ideological influences around him.
Those concerns have only sharpened since Mamdani has faced criticism over past comments tied to Hamas and Islamic extremism. Sheehy went even further, saying, “He’s platformed Islamic extremism, and he openly supports Hamas, as does his wife,” a remark that underscored how aggressive the GOP response has become.
For families who lost loved ones on 9/11, the issue is not abstract. They want the anniversary to stay focused on remembrance, honor, and the people who never came home, not on a mayor they believe sends the wrong message for such a solemn day.
That sentiment has kept the petition moving, with supporters arguing that the families closest to the tragedy should have the loudest voice in deciding who belongs at the ceremony. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., said, “I think he has said some pretty disgusting things and seems to be on that trend line that he’s going to talk like that more and more,” adding that she understood why so many families feel outraged.
By Monday evening, the petition had passed 82,000 signatures, a sign that the push has resonance far beyond one political fight. Mamdani has said he still plans to attend the commemoration, and the standoff now hangs over an event that was supposed to belong to mourning, remembrance, and the families who have carried this loss for a quarter-century.
Republicans say the decision should not be about protecting a politician’s image. Sheehy put it bluntly: “As far as I’m concerned, he’s a disgrace and an embarrassment to the country, but we’ll see if he shows up, right?”
Even with the pressure building, Mamdani’s office has stayed quiet, leaving the petition and the GOP backlash to dominate the conversation. The families behind the effort are still pressing their case, insisting that the people most affected by the attacks should have the final say on who stands with them at Ground Zero.
