From Newsweek · · 2m
Two 9/11 moments, one political brawl
A smile at Ground Zero and closed eyes at the Pentagon turned the 25th anniversary into a partisan fight over a few seconds of footage.
In brief
A smile at Ground Zero and closed eyes at the Pentagon turned the 25th anniversary into a partisan fight over a few seconds of footage. On a day meant for the dead, a few frames of video became the story, and both sides picked the clip that suited them. Originally reported by Newsweek.
Three leaders, one backlash
Trump, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez all drew criticism Friday for how they behaved at 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremonies.
A smile at Ground Zero
Footage appeared to show Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez smiling and laughing in Lower Manhattan while the names of the dead were read aloud.
Republicans pile on
Ted Cruz, Nancy Mace and Meghan McCain all shared the same Fox News clip, saying anyone laughing there had no business in public service.
“How the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9/11 are being read aloud?”
A Republican defends them
Michael Ragusa, a former FDNY EMT who ran for City Council as a Republican, stood beside them for two hours and said the clip was just AOC greeting the mayor.
“I was next to them for 2 hours. They were very respectful and stayed the entire time.”
Mamdani was already contested
Some victims' relatives had asked him to skip the anniversary. Governor Kathy Hochul defended his attendance, and he was photographed shaking hands with Rudy Giuliani.
“The mayor of New York City will be there, as he should be.”
Trump's closed eyes
At the Pentagon ceremony, TV cameras caught the president sitting with his eyes shut for stretches, and social media accused him of sleeping through it.
The White House hits back
A spokesman said Trump was listening solemnly and called the sleeping claims lies. Defenders noted the footage proves nothing and that he had a late political event the night before.
“Anyone ridiculously claiming the president was asleep is lying.”
Sleepy Joe comes around
The accusation landed hard because Trump spent years attacking Joe Biden's age and alertness, nicknaming him Sleepy Joe.
Remembrance as battleground
Ground Zero bans political speeches; the Pentagon let Trump and Pete Hegseth speak. Nearly 3,000 died in 2001, but the day's story became a few seconds of video.
What matters most
On a day meant for the dead, a few frames of video became the story, and both sides picked the clip that suited them.
