Yes
It is.
No
It isn’t.
President Donald Trump will not attend the annual September 11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City this year, a decision that could generate strong reactions as the nation prepares to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
But the president will not be sitting out the anniversary.
Instead, President Trump says he will commemorate September 11 at the Pentagon, another location directly attacked on that tragic morning in 2001. Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the administration at the New York City ceremony, while administration officials are also expected to attend the observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The September 11 attacks remain one of the darkest moments in modern American history. Nearly 3,000 people were killed when terrorists hijacked four commercial airplanes, striking the World Trade Center and Pentagon while another aircraft, United Flight 93, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought back.
For millions of Americans, the Ground Zero ceremony has become an especially powerful symbol of remembrance.
Trump also has deep connections to New York. He was born in Queens, built much of his business career in Manhattan and has spoken repeatedly about witnessing the aftermath of September 11.
His decision to attend the Pentagon ceremony rather than Ground Zero, however, is not without precedent. During his first term as president, Trump commemorated September 11 at the Pentagon and the Flight 93 memorial rather than always attending the Manhattan ceremony. He most recently attended the Ground Zero commemoration in 2024.
Supporters may therefore argue that criticizing Trump for “skipping” Ground Zero leaves out an important part of the story. He is still participating in an official September 11 memorial and honoring Americans killed at another attack site.
Critics may counter that the 25th anniversary carries extraordinary historical significance and that a president with such strong ties to New York should personally attend the Ground Zero ceremony.
For many Americans, September 11 transcends ordinary politics. The question is whether the president’s location matters when honoring those who were lost.