25th Anniversary of 9/11 Commemorated in New York Without Trump: The Reason Why
The United States commemorated the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy with a moving ceremony at Ground Zero, New York, on Friday (11/9). However, US President Donald Trump was not personally present at the official memorial event.
Only US Vice President JD Vance attended the New York commemoration, which was also attended by four living former US Presidents: George W. Bush, who was in office during the 9/11 attacks, alongside Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton.
In an unusual move, as reported by AFP and Hindustan Times on Saturday (12/9/2026), Trump attended a 9/11 memorial service held at the Pentagon headquarters, or the US Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia.
During the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, one of the hijacked planes struck the Pentagon headquarters, killing at least 184 people. A total of 2,977 people died in the terrorist attacks that also struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York approximately 25 years ago.
The memorial event in New York was held with solemnity, attended by the families of victims and marked by moments of remembering the 9/11 tragedy minute by minute. The names of the victims were read aloud, and bells were rung to mark key moments of the attacks.
These memorial ceremonies are generally non-political in nature and do not feature speeches.
Why was Trump absent from the 9/11 commemoration in New York?
Trump’s decision not to attend drew significant attention because he is from New York and has attended the commemorations in the past.
The prominent US media outlet, the New York Times (NYT), reported that Trump wished to deliver a keynote speech at the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero, New York. However, the annual event does not permit politicians or public officials to deliver speeches.
This was reported to have influenced Trump’s decision to attend the memorial at the Pentagon, where he did deliver a speech from the podium.
Trump has denied the NYT report. “This is another example of Corrupt News; I have come to New York many times over the years, and no one gives a speech, it is a ‘solemn ceremony’,” he stated.
In an interview with radio station 77 WABC on Friday (11/9), Trump again dismissed reports claiming he was absent from New York because he was not permitted to speak.
“That is not true at all. I did not demand to speak,” he asserted, as reported by The Hill.
“I have spoken enough; the last thing I want to do is speak,” Trump added. “I do not need it for any reason.”
Trump Linked 9/11 Tragedy to Iran War in His Speech
In his speech at the Pentagon, Trump sought to link the “war on terror” following the 9/11 tragedy—which triggered years of US involvement in various Middle Eastern conflicts—with the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
“Today we renew the sacred oath that we first took in their name a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget that event. That is why we fight today,” Trump said during his speech at the Pentagon memorial on Friday (11/9).
“We have no choice. There is only victory. We fight hard. We fight to win,” asserted the US President, who was accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump.