New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended but was not called to speak Friday at the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad in Queens, according to a report from the New York Post that has not been independently verified by other outlets.
Mamdani appeared at the service at a church in Ozone Park and reviewed prepared remarks on an iPad as other dignitaries spoke, but his name was never called, the Post reported. A source familiar with the funeral told the paper that Rampersad's family chose not to have Mamdani speak in an effort to avoid any 'political distractions.'
What the Left Is Saying
Mamdani's office later released his prepared remarks honoring Rampersad. 'It is often said that our fallen gave their tomorrows for our today,' he planned to say. '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.'
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, delivered remarks during the service. 'I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,' Hochul said.
Supporters note Mamdani attended the funeral in person to honor Rampersad despite not speaking, and that his office chose to share his tribute publicly so it would still reach her family and community. They point out that the decision to keep him off the program was made by the family, not the mayor.
What the Right Is Saying
The report arrives amid scrutiny of Mamdani's record on military-related matters. A separate Fox News piece noted that 9/11 families are pushing to ban Mamdani from the 25th anniversary remembrance over what they describe as a 'hostile' record toward their community.
Critics say such controversies risk turning solemn events into political battlegrounds, and that Rampersad's family requesting no remarks from the mayor reflects broader unease. The military deaths in Jordan have drawn national attention, with President Trump giving an emotional tribute to one of the other fallen service members after flying his grieving family on Air Force One.
What the Numbers Show
Rampersad, 28, was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany, serving as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist, according to the Department of War.
The other two service members killed in the July 17 attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan were identified as 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. They were deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the international campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
U.S. Central Command said the three service members were killed while CENTCOM and partner forces 'defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.'
The Bottom Line
The funeral shows how a military death overseas can carry political weight at home. Rampersad's family sought to keep the focus on her service rather than city politics, according to the report, even as Mamdani's office released his prepared tribute.
What happens next is unclear: Mamdani's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, and questions remain about whether the mayor will face further calls — including from 9/11 families ahead of the anniversary remembrance — over how he handles events honoring service members.