New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Silenced at Fallen Soldier’s Funeral by Family

Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, attended the funeral of Sergeant Angel Sarah Rampersad but was not allowed to deliver the speech he had prepared. According to the New York Post, Mamdani was seated in the fourth row and was not called to the stage during the ceremony held at the Ozone Park church in Queens. A source at the event revealed that Rampersad’s family, who supported President Donald Trump, did not want Mamdani, a Democrat and political rival, to speak at the funeral.

Rampersad, 28, was one of three American soldiers killed on July 17 in an Iranian missile attack on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. During the funeral, Mamdani was seen reviewing his speech on an iPad while New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and others spoke. The source said Mamdani appeared frustrated as his name was not called, and he eventually put aside his tablet.

Mamdani, known for his left-wing views and criticism of the U.S. and Israeli actions against Iran, was reportedly excluded from speaking due to his political positions. After the funeral, Mamdani’s press team released the speech he intended to deliver, which honored Rampersad’s sacrifice and lamented the loss of her future for the sake of others’ safety.