Trump’s 9/11 Decision Shocks Americans
President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to skip the 25th anniversary ceremony marking the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in New York City, according to The New York Times.
Trump’s team had previously visited Ground Zero while preparing for the anniversary and initially indicated that the president expected to attend the ceremony on September 11. There had also reportedly been interest in having Trump speak during the event.
That plan appears to have changed.
Trump has attended previous 9/11 commemorations in New York, but elected officials have not been permitted to deliver speeches at the World Trade Center site since 2012. The policy was established in an effort to keep the annual ceremony focused on honoring the victims rather than turning the event into a partisan political gathering.
According to the report, Trump’s desire to speak at the ceremony may have contributed to his decision not to attend. His schedule could also be a factor, with the president expected to travel the following day for the Irish Open golf tournament.
Instead of appearing at Ground Zero, Trump reportedly plans to mark the anniversary at the Pentagon, another location directly targeted during the September 11 attacks.
The Pentagon was struck by a hijacked commercial airliner on September 11, 2001, killing 184 people inside the building and aboard the plane. The World Trade Center attacks in New York resulted in thousands of additional deaths.
Trump has previously participated in the Pentagon’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony. He delivered remarks there last year while commemorating the anniversary of the attacks.
The reported change in plans is likely to draw attention because of Trump’s personal connection to New York. The president was born and raised in the city and has long identified himself closely with New York, making his reported decision to spend the anniversary elsewhere particularly notable.
For families who lost loved ones in the attacks, however, the annual ceremonies remain primarily about remembering those who died and honoring the survivors, first responders and others affected by the tragedy.
The 25th anniversary is expected to be one of the largest commemorations since the attacks, making the president’s reported absence from Ground Zero a significant development as preparations for September 11 continue.
