Mayor Denied Speaking Role at Funeral for Fallen Army Sgt. in NYC

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was reportedly not allowed to speak during the funeral of Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad in Queens. Rampersad was one of the three U.S. service members killed in Jordan during an Iranian attack on July 17.

Mamdani attended the funeral at a church in Ozone Park but did not deliver remarks honoring Rampersad. According to the New York Post, Mamdani looked over prepared remarks on an iPad while other dignitaries spoke, but he did not get a chance to speak.

A source familiar with the funeral shared with the New York Post that Sgt. Rampersad’s family opted to exclude Mamdani from speaking to avoid potential “political distractions.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended Rampersad’s funeral, but despite this, his office later released prepared remarks after he was not given the opportunity to speak during the service.

Sgt. Rampersad was killed on July 17, 2026, during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, according to the Department of War.

Governor Kathy Hochul, who was also present, spoke during the ceremony. “I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters,” Hochul said. Rampersad was 28 years old and hailed from Ozone Park, New York.

Rampersad, along with two other U.S. service members, died while U.S. Central Command and partner forces “defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.” The two other victims were 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, from Carrollton, Texas. They were all deployed to Jordan supporting Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Rampersad served as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist in the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, including the 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade and the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command stationed in Ansbach, Germany.

Mayor Mamdani was also seen departing the funeral service of Sgt. Rampersad in Queens.