New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the funeral Friday of a U.S. Army sergeant killed in an Iranian strike but was not permitted to deliver the remarks he had prepared, according to a report citing people familiar with the service.
Mamdani had expected to speak at the Queens funeral for Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad, 28, one of three American soldiers killed last month in Jordan. The mayor attended the service at an Ozone Park church but was never called to the podium.
One person who attended the funeral told The New York Post that Mamdani appeared visibly frustrated when he realized he would not be speaking.
“He looked over at his staff, frustrated and seemed angry that he didn’t speak. When he realized his name wasn’t being called, he looked at his staff angrily and then eventually put his tablet away.”
Another source said Rampersad’s family supports President Donald Trump and wanted to prevent the funeral from becoming a political spectacle.
“The family is more conservative and wanted to limit any political distractions,” the source said.
Mamdani’s office later released the statement the mayor had prepared for the service.
“It is often said that our fallen ‘gave their tomorrows for our today,” the statement reads. “Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected.”
Those who addressed mourners included New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Ozone Park Residents Block Association President Sam Esposito, state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
The episode comes as some relatives of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have urged Mamdani not to attend this year’s ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the destruction of the World Trade Center. The mayor has so far rejected those requests.
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