A 9/11 first responder’s family has ignited a firestorm in New York’s mayoral race. At a press conference near Ground Zero, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Tururici family slammed Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani for his ties to Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, whose 2019 claim that “America deserved 9/11” still haunts the city’s conscience.
On August 21, 2025, Cuomo stood with Sal Tururici, a terminally ill FDNY EMT who served on 9/11, and his wife, Wendi, at the Times Square Sheraton. The event, held steps from Ground Zero, aimed to spotlight Mamdani’s appearance on Piker’s Twitch stream earlier that year.
Fox News reported that Wendi Tururici didn’t mince words. “I am calling on Zohran Mamdani to disavow Hasan Piker and his hateful words,” she said. Her demand lands like a gut punch, but Mamdani’s campaign sidestepped it, refusing to condemn the notorious streamer who also supports terrorists.
Cuomo, trailing Mamdani by 22 points in a New York Times/Siena College poll from early September, used the press conference to reclaim momentum. He showcased posters of Mamdani posing with Piker, juxtaposed with Piker’s 2019 comment. It’s a calculated move to paint Mamdani as unfit for leadership in a city scarred by terrorism.
“This is not just politics, this is personal,” Cuomo declared, invoking Sal Tururici’s sacrifice. His words resonate with those who see 9/11 as a sacred wound, not a talking point.
The Mamdani campaign fired back, claiming Cuomo’s tactics stoke Islamophobia. “He’s holding a press conference to suggest that Zohran Mamdani — who is poised to become New York’s first Muslim mayor — somehow supported 9/11,” their statement read. It’s a bold deflection, but it dodges the core issue: Piker’s toxic rhetoric.
Piker, a polarizing figure, admitted in 2019 that his “America deserved 9/11” remark was “inappropriate” after it sparked outrage. Still, his words linger, especially after Rep. Ritchie Torres urged Twitch in 2024 to curb antisemitic voices like Piker’s. Associating with such a figure is a liability Mamdani can’t easily shake.
Wendi Tururici doubled down, saying, “Mamdani’s association with Piker is not just politics, but life and death.” Her words carry the weight of her husband’s terminal illness, tied to his 9/11 service. For conservatives, this underscores the stakes of leadership in a post-9/11 world.
Mamdani’s campaign insists this is a distraction. “New Yorkers can see this for what it is — a cynical attempt to recycle the ugliest playbook in our politics,” they stated. But dismissing the Tururici family’s pain as mere politics risks alienating voters who value 9/11’s legacy.
Cuomo’s team announced two new hires on August 21: strategist Greg Goldner and pollster Cornell Belcher. The move signals a campaign gearing up for a brutal eight weeks until Election Day. With polls showing Mamdani in the lead, Cuomo’s focus on Piker is a high-risk strategy to shift the narrative.
Mamdani, meanwhile, rallied supporters in Prospect Park on August 17, days before Cuomo’s press conference. “I am willing to speak to every person about this campaign,” he said. His openness is admirable, but avoiding Piker’s shadow won’t be easy.
Piker himself weighed in, sneering, “These guys are incredibly desperate, and they’ll get even more racist as the election nears.” His taunt fuels the conservative argument that he’s a liability, not a victim. Smirking through the backlash only deepens the divide.
The Tururici family’s endorsement of Cuomo amplifies their critique of Mamdani. Sal Tururici’s cancer, linked to his Ground Zero service, makes their stance personal. For many New Yorkers, their pain is a reminder of the city’s enduring scars.
Cuomo’s press conference, held so close to the 9/11 anniversary, strikes a chord with those wary of progressive figures cozying up to provocateurs like Piker.
Yet, Mamdani’s team argues Cuomo is weaponizing grief for votes. Of course, that ignores the fact that Piker unapologetically defends his position, and there is no cheap political play here, just hateful rhetoric from Piker, implicitly supported by Mamdani.
As Election Day looms, this clash exposes a deeper divide. Conservatives see Mamdani’s ties to Piker as a betrayal of New York’s resilience; progressives view Cuomo’s attacks as fearmongering. With eight weeks left, the city’s voters will decide whose vision prevails.
