Robert De Niro called Zohran Mamdani’s past police comments “ridiculous” but defended the mayor’s attendance at New York City’s 9/11 memorial service.
Actor Robert De Niro defended New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s decision to attend the city’s 9/11 memorial ceremony, even while acknowledging that some of the mayor’s past comments about police were “ridiculous.”
De Niro made the comments in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter as New York prepared to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Mamdani’s attendance had become a political flashpoint, with some victims’ relatives and critics arguing that his past rhetoric made his presence inappropriate.
De Niro says Mamdani should attend
When asked whether Mamdani should participate in the 9/11 memorial, De Niro said he saw no reason for the mayor to be excluded.
The actor argued that Mamdani is now New York City’s mayor and should be given an opportunity to participate in the remembrance ceremony.
De Niro also said Mamdani was not involved in the events of September 11, 2001, and suggested the mayor could use the occasion to help bring New Yorkers together.
“I understand their pain,” De Niro said when asked about families who objected to Mamdani’s attendance, while maintaining that he believed the mayor should be there.
De Niro calls police comments ‘ridiculous’
De Niro did not completely dismiss criticism of Mamdani’s record.
Mamdani came under renewed scrutiny over comments he made during the 2020 George Floyd protests, when he called for defunding the police and described the NYPD in sharply negative terms.
Asked about those remarks, De Niro acknowledged that Mamdani had made the comments and said they were “ridiculous.” He argued, however, that defunding the police was not realistic and maintained that the mayor should still attend the memorial.
The actor suggested that Mamdani’s earlier rhetoric should not prevent him from taking part in a ceremony honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed in the 2001 attacks.
Mamdani faces backlash over 9/11 attendance
The debate surrounding Mamdani’s appearance grew in the days leading up to the 25th anniversary.
An online petition backed by relatives of 9/11 victims attracted more than 100,000 signatures calling on the mayor to stay away from the ceremony, according to Fox News. Critics pointed to Mamdani’s previous political associations and statements involving police, terrorism and Israel-related activism as reasons for their objections.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani also publicly argued that Mamdani should not attend the ceremony. Mamdani rejected that criticism and said honoring the victims and first responders was part of his responsibility as mayor.
The controversy came despite Mamdani taking part in preparations for the anniversary and publicly honoring members of the NYPD who died during the attacks and in the years afterward.
Mamdani highlights first responders
Just days before the anniversary, Mamdani joined NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch at One Police Plaza to unveil a memorial wall honoring officers who died in connection with the September 11 attacks and their aftermath.
During the ceremony, Mamdani praised the courage of officers who rushed toward the World Trade Center and those who continued working at Ground Zero after the attacks.
The mayor also highlighted the long-term toll on first responders, noting that hundreds of NYPD members have since died from illnesses connected to their service following 9/11.
His participation in the memorial events underscored the tension surrounding his political history and his current role as the city’s chief executive.
De Niro urges Mamdani to build a bridge
De Niro suggested that the controversy itself could provide Mamdani with an opportunity to demonstrate leadership.
Rather than viewing the memorial as a political battleground, the actor said Mamdani could use the event “as a bridge” to bring people together.
That argument comes as New York marked a major milestone in the remembrance of the attacks. The 2026 ceremony included the reading of victims’ names and a new moment of silence recognizing people who later died from illnesses connected to the attacks and toxic exposure.
9/11 remembrance remains politically sensitive
The dispute over Mamdani’s attendance illustrates how politically charged 9/11 remembrance can remain a quarter-century after the attacks.
While supporters of the mayor argued that his presence was appropriate given his position, critics continued to question whether his previous statements and political associations were compatible with the solemnity of the ceremony.
De Niro’s position attempted to separate those issues. He acknowledged that Mamdani’s past comments about policing were wrong while arguing that the mayor should still be allowed to honor the victims.
Mamdani ultimately attended the Ground Zero ceremony alongside national and New York political leaders, as the city commemorated the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11 attacks.
The episode leaves De Niro and Mamdani at the center of a broader debate over political accountability, public remembrance and whether divisive past statements should determine who participates in one of the nation’s most solemn memorial events.
