A brief exchange between Rudy Giuliani and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani at the 9/11 memorial ceremony has drawn attention after a lip reader gave his interpretation of what was said.
Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, was attending the 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero on September 11. Mamdani, who was elected mayor of New York City, was also present as victims’ names were read during the solemn ceremony.
At one point, the two men crossed paths and briefly spoke. Cameras captured their interaction, but the exchange was too quiet to be heard clearly in the footage.
Lip reader Jeremy Freeman later reviewed the video and said Giuliani appeared to tell Mamdani, “I prayed for you. Good job. OK.” He described the interaction as brief but unusual given the political differences between the two men.
The comments quickly attracted attention because of the circumstances surrounding the meeting. Giuliani has been a prominent critic of progressive New York politics, while Mamdani has faced criticism from conservatives and some 9/11 victims’ families over his attendance at the memorial.
The ceremony itself was held to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11 attacks. Families of the victims gathered at Ground Zero to read the names of those who died, while political leaders and other guests attended the annual commemoration.
Although the lip reader's interpretation has circulated widely, the exact words cannot be independently confirmed from the silent video. Freeman's reading is an interpretation of visible lip movements, not an audio recording.
The short exchange has nevertheless become one of the more discussed moments from this year's memorial, with viewers paying close attention to what the two politicians appeared to say to one another.