President Trump will not attend the September 11 ceremony at Ground Zero, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks. Reports indicate this decision was due to his request to deliver a speech at the event being declined. Instead, he will attend a ceremony at the Pentagon, where he plans to address the audience.
Vice President JD Vance will represent Trump at the New York event. The unexpected decision came after the National September 11 Memorial and Museum leaders refused Trump’s request. The organization aims to keep the annual commemorations nonpartisan and apolitical, having banned political speeches for over a decade. Attendees will include Vice President Vance, Mayor Mamdani, ex-Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Trump’s Pentagon speech falls shortly after his appearance at a Republican midterm political convention in Dallas. This timing suggests a potential partisan tone to his address. He plans to travel to Ireland the following day, coinciding with the Irish Open golf tournament at his resort.
In 2024, Trump attended the Ground Zero ceremony alongside prominent political figures such as Vice President Vance and then-President Joe Biden, without delivering any speeches. He subsequently visited a fire station, meeting FDNY firefighters.

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