A firefighter confronted a pro-Palestinian protester wearing an Elmo costume near the 9/11 Memorial in New York City on Friday. Video showed the firefighter calling the protester anti-American during a heated verbal exchange. The incident occurred as ceremonies were being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The FDNY said the person in the video was not and had never been a member of the department.
The video was recorded near Ground Zero and circulated online after being posted by a conservative activist organization. The person in the Elmo costume was carrying a Palestinian flag. It remained unclear whether the firefighter was active or retired, or whether the individual belonged to another fire department.
| 1) | Confrontation near the 9/11 Memorial |
| 2) | Statements made during the exchange |
| 3) | Fire department clarifies the firefighter’s identity |
| 4) | Protests and anniversary ceremonies coincide |
| 5) | What is known about the video |
Confrontation near the 9/11 Memorial
The confrontation took place Friday near the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, a short distance from the ceremony commemorating the attacks. The person confronted was wearing an Elmo costume and displaying a Palestinian flag. Video showed the individual and other protesters in the area as the firefighter approached and spoke angrily.
The timing was significant because Friday marked 25 years since the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania. People had gathered in New York to remember the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks, while demonstrations related to the Israel-Palestinian conflict also took place nearby.
Statements made during the exchange
During the exchange, the firefighter used profanity and described the protester as anti-American. The person also told the protester to leave and directed insults at former President Barack Obama, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Anti-American. Go back to Palestine. We don’t want you here,” the firefighter shouted, according to the video.
After the firefighter walked away, another voice in the recording said that Jews were committing genocide. The video did not establish who made that statement, and it was not clear whether the speaker was one of the protesters.
Fire department clarifies the firefighter’s identity
The New York City Fire Department said it was aware of the circulating video showing someone wearing a uniform involved in a verbal altercation. The department said the person appeared to be from another fire department and was not, and had never been, an FDNY member.
That statement left several details unresolved, including the person’s department, employment status and whether any disciplinary action was being considered. The recording showed a uniform, but the available video did not independently verify the person’s identity or professional affiliation.
Protests and anniversary ceremonies coincide
The confrontation occurred as a memorial ceremony was taking place at Ground Zero. All living former presidents attended the ceremony, along with Vice President JD Vance. Mamdani, Hochul and Ocasio-Cortez were also present, while President Donald Trump delivered a keynote address at a separate 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon.
The video was posted online with a claim that frustration among Americans attending the memorial service was spilling into nearby streets. Separately, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel demonstrations were reported in the vicinity, including footage showing Palestinian and Hezbollah flags. The available material did not establish the size of the demonstrations or whether the people shown were connected to one another.
What is known about the video
The footage was recorded by people near the scene and later circulated on social media. It captured the verbal confrontation but did not show what led to the encounter or what happened after the participants moved apart. No physical assault was described in the available account.
The identity of the firefighter and the protester was not disclosed. The incident therefore remains documented primarily through the video and the FDNY’s clarification. Questions about the recording’s full context, the participants’ affiliations and any follow-up investigation were unresolved.
| No. | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | A firefighter confronted an Elmo-costumed protester near the 9/11 Memorial. |
| 2 | The firefighter used profane language and called the protester anti-American. |
| 3 | The FDNY said the person was not and had never been an FDNY member. |
| 4 | The exchange occurred during events marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11. |
Summary
A uniformed person identified in the video as a firefighter confronted a pro-Palestinian protester near the 9/11 Memorial during anniversary events in New York. The FDNY distanced itself from the individual, saying the person was affiliated with another fire department and had never belonged to the city department. The recording captured a tense political exchange, but it did not establish the identities of the participants or provide a complete account of what preceded the confrontation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the confrontation occur?
It occurred near the 9/11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan, close to the site of the anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.
Who was involved?
A person wearing a firefighter uniform confronted a protester in an Elmo costume who was carrying a Palestinian flag. Their identities were not disclosed.
Was the person an FDNY firefighter?
No. The FDNY said the person was from another fire department and was not, and had never been, a member of the FDNY.
Did the video show a physical altercation?
The available account described a verbal confrontation. It did not describe a physical assault and did not show the full context before or after the exchange.
