Trump set to honor 9/11 victims, first responders at Pentagon on 25th anniversary
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with a ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday, paying tribute to those who died and the first responders who rescued others that day. The event will be the latest in a series of presidential observances that have seen Trump attend multiple 9/11 memorials during his time in office.
The White House confirmed that Trump will speak at the Pentagon ceremony, while Vice President JD Vance will lead a separate commemoration at the World Trade Center site in New York. Administration officials are also expected to gather in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, ensuring that all three locations tied to the attacks are represented. Vance’s New York appearance will be shared with former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Trump’s participation is consistent with previous years of remembrance. Last year, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended a 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon and issued a Patriot Day proclamation directing that U.S. flags be flown at half‑staff. He also traveled to the Bronx to attend a Yankees‑Tigers game that included tributes to the victims.
During his first term, Trump marked 9/11 at the Pentagon in 2017 and 2019, and in 2018 and 2020 he spent the day at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville. Those visits are part of a pattern of presidential engagement with all major 9/11 sites.
The president’s personal connection to the day dates back to his time as a New York real‑estate developer. At the moment the planes struck, Trump was nearby and watched the tragedy unfold. In a phone interview with WWOR‑TV channel 9 that evening, he described the scene: “I have a window that looks directly at the World Trade Center, and I saw this huge explosion. I was with a group of people and I really couldn’t even believe it,” he said.
White House principal deputy press secretary Anna Kelly framed Trump’s remarks about his own experience. “As a proud New Yorker, President Trump has spoken about his own experiences watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001,” Kelly said. She added, “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.”
The buildup to the anniversary has included a traveling memorial that arrived at the White House earlier this week. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s “Steel Across America” tour displayed a 21‑foot, 16,900‑pound beam salvaged from the World Trade Center’s South Tower. The beam has traveled more than 10,500 miles through 21 states as a movable tribute to the victims and responders of 9/11, and its stop at the White House placed it before Trump’s Friday ceremony.
Observances across the country are expected to continue through the weekend, with local ceremonies, moments of silence and readings of names honoring those lost. The collective effort reflects the enduring significance of the day that reshaped national security policy and collective memory.