President Trump will reportedly not travel to New York City for the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Instead, he will honor the historic day at the Pentagon.
Vice President J.D. Vance will attend New York’s ground zero ceremony in the president’s place, according to multiple reports.
Mr. Trump will deliver remarks at the Pentagon, which was also hit on that terror day in 2001.
The president reportedly initially explored giving a speech at ground zero, then decided to deliver remarks at the Pentagon commemoration, just as he did previously.
New York’s National September 11 Memorial & Museum has banned elected officials from giving speeches at the annual ceremony since 2012.
Organizers set the no-speech policy to keep the event nonpartisan and focused entirely on the victims and their families.
Politicians may attend and stand in the audience, but they’re not allowed to use the microphone or speak from the podium.
In response to a TMZ post that suggested the president, a New York native, is snubbing the city’s ceremony because he was not given the green light to speak, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted, “FAKE NEWS.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement, “As a proud New Yorker, President Trump has spoken about his own experiences watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001.
“On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the President will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans.”
Notable attendees expected in Manhattan include New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama.
This would be the second year in a row that Mr. Trump has memorialized the anniversary at the Pentagon.
He attended the commemoration ceremony at ground zero in 2024 during his presidential campaign.
Mr. Trump marked his first Sept. 11 anniversary in office in 2017 by observing a moment of silence at the White House and speaking at a memorial ceremony at the Pentagon.
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