US President Donald Trump speaks during a back to school event in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, August 24, 2026, in Washington. (Source: AP)
Washington: President Donald Trump will mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon.
Trump confirmed his plans Friday, August 28. Vice President JD Vance will attend the New York observance, and other administration officials will attend the ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the White House said.
This year marks a quarter-century since the hijacked plane attacks by al-Qaida militants that claimed nearly 3,000 lives in the three locations and upended American foreign policy and national security.
After returning from a trip to Houston on Friday, reporters asked Trump, alongside Air Force One, why he would not be at the New York ceremony, as some reports said. He responded, “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.”
In a social media post Friday, Trump described 9/11 as “a day to remember the victims, and their beautiful family members.”
Last year, Trump commemorated the anniversary at the annual Pentagon ceremony, where he delivered remarks recounting moments from the day, including snippets of conversations from passengers who were aboard the hijacked aeroplanes.
The president, who is originally from New York, last attended the Ground Zero ceremony in 2024.
Vance had planned to be in New York for the anniversary last year but instead flew to Salt Lake City to be with the family of Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist was assassinated.
This post was last modified on August 29, 2026 8:30 am