Cuomo suggests Mamdani would 'cheer' another 9/11 in radio interview
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appeared to agree with a radio host’s claim that New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would “cheer” if another September 11-style attack occurred, sparking immediate condemnation from the Democratic nominee and accusations of racism and Islamophobia.
The exchange
During a Thursday morning appearance on WABC’s “Sid and Friends in the Morning,” Cuomo was questioning Mamdani’s executive experience when the conversation turned to the September 11 attacks. “God forbid, another 9/11. Can you imagine Mamdani in the seat?” Cuomo asked host Sid Rosenberg.
Rosenberg responded, “I could. He’d be cheering,” while laughing. Cuomo appeared to chuckle briefly before replying, “That’s another problem. But really, can you picture what would have transpired in this city if Mamdani had been in charge on 9/11?”
Mamdani’s response
Mamdani condemned the remarks during an interview with PIX11 News later Thursday. “This is appalling. This represents Andrew Cuomo’s waning moments in public life, and he chooses to spend them launching racist attacks against a person poised to become the first Muslim mayor of this city,” he said.
“There are over 1 million Muslims residing in New York City, and having our faith tarnished and vilified by someone who once held a position of leadership within the Democratic Party highlights that bigotry and racism are not solely Republican issues.”
— Zohran Mamdani
Cuomo campaign’s defense
Cuomo spokesperson Rich Azzopardi defended the remarks, stating they referred to Mamdani’s association with streamer Hasan Piker, who previously said “America deserved 9/11”—a statement Piker later called inappropriate. The spokesperson noted that Cuomo had previously held a press conference with 9/11 families, urging Mamdani to denounce Piker’s comments.
Mamdani denounced Piker’s 9/11 comments as “objectionable and reprehensible” during a debate last week, though Piker was not mentioned during the Thursday morning radio interview between Rosenberg and Cuomo.
Context of the mayoral race
The exchange comes as Cuomo trails significantly in polls behind Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary in June and would become New York City’s first Muslim mayor if elected in November. Cuomo, running on third-party lines after losing the Democratic primary, has increasingly focused his campaign on law-and-order messaging and criticism of Mamdani’s stance on Israel.
Throughout the campaign, Mamdani has faced a wave of anti-Muslim attacks following his primary victory. The Council on American-Islamic Relations documented approximately 6,200 online comments containing Islamophobic slurs within 24 hours of his primary win, and a Texas man was arrested in September for allegedly making death threats against the candidate.
Cuomo’s campaign also released an AI-generated advertisement on Wednesday showing “criminals” supporting Mamdani, including a Black man wearing a keffiyeh shoplifting, which critics called racist.