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President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will attend the Pentagon’s commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. When questioned by reporters at Joint Base Andrews about his absence from New York’s Ground Zero ceremony, Trump responded tersely: “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.”
The New York Times reported Thursday that Trump had decided against attending the Ground Zero event because he would not be permitted to deliver remarks. The site has maintained a policy banning politicians from speaking since 2012, adhering to a tradition of solemn remembrance focused on victims and their families.
White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly defended Trump’s plans in a statement to Fox News, emphasizing his status as a “proud New Yorker” and his past reflections on witnessing the 2001 attacks. She noted that Trump would honor those killed and pay tribute to first responders who responded to the tragedy.
A White House official confirmed that Vice President Kamala Harris would travel to New York City, with administration representatives attending all three attack sites: Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the crash site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 went down.
White House communications director Steven Cheung labeled reports of Trump “snubbing” Ground Zero as “FAKE NEWS” after the story circulated on social media. Trump himself posted on Truth Social that the Times article misrepresented his plans and motives regarding the anniversary observance.
Trump stated he preferred not to speak at any ceremony, citing the importance of honoring victims rather than having politicians address the gathering. Last year, Trump attended the Pentagon ceremony for the 24th anniversary before traveling to New York later that day for a Yankees game.
Trump last attended the Ground Zero ceremony in 2024 as the Republican presidential nominee, standing alongside then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris. During his first presidency, he marked the anniversary at the Pentagon in 2017 and alternated between that location and Pennsylvania in subsequent years.
The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people when al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four commercial airliners. Two crashed into the World Trade Center, one struck the Pentagon, and passengers on Flight 93 fought back before it crashed in Pennsylvania, preventing further casualties on the ground.
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