President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he plans to attend the Pentagon to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
A reporter inquired why he wasn’t going to be in New York for the occasion, to which Trump responded loudly at Joint Base Andrews, “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.”
According to a report from Thursday, Trump chose not to attend the Ground Zero ceremony because he was informed he would not be able to deliver a speech there. The event has prohibited political speeches since 2012.
A White House spokeswoman emphasized that Trump is a “proud New Yorker” and highlighted his past discussions regarding his experiences on that tragic day. She stated, “On the 25th anniversary, the President will remember those lost to terrorism, honor their families, and pay tribute to the first responders.” She also noted that Vice President will still be visiting New York City, with representatives attending all three sites affected by the attacks.
Following reports that Trump was “snubbing” the Ground Zero event, a White House communications director responded with, “FAKE NEWS.”
Trump further criticized the reporter, asserting on Truth Social that the claims about him skipping the Ground Zero ceremony for the Pentagon due to a lack of speaking opportunity were inaccurate. He expressed confusion over why such a story was created, insisting he has frequently visited New York and that no speeches are made during these solemn ceremonies.
He mentioned his desire not to speak as, in his view, the day is meant to honor victims and their families.
Last year, Trump attended the Pentagon ceremony for the 24th anniversary of 9/11, but he later went to a Yankees game in New York.
The last time he attended the Ground Zero ceremony was in 2024, when he was a Republican presidential nominee, sharing the event with President Biden and Vice President Harris.
During his first term, Trump did not attend the Ground Zero ceremony. He spoke at the Pentagon in 2017 and alternated appearances between there and the site in Pennsylvania in the following years.
Nearly 3,000 individuals lost their lives in the 2001 attacks, where al-Qaeda hijackers crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. United Airlines Flight 93 was also seized, but brave passengers fought back before it crashed in Pennsylvania.
The 9/11 attacks remain the deadliest in America’s history, leading to the invasion of Afghanistan and marking the beginning of the broader War on Terror, which would eventually include the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
