President Trump will not attend the ceremony in Manhattan for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks due to restrictions on speeches at the memorial site, according to four sources familiar with the situation. Instead, he plans to commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon, which was also attacked on September 11, 2001.
Initially, Trump's team had conducted advance visits to ground zero and indicated that he would participate in the memorial event. However, since 2012, politicians have been prohibited from speaking at the site to maintain a nonpartisan atmosphere. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum oversees this policy.
Trump, a New Yorker, has frequently referenced the September 11 attacks during his political career. His decision to honor the day at the Pentagon follows his attendance at a political convention in Texas on September 9 and 10. The convention may include a tribute to the victims of the attacks.
Additionally, logistical considerations influenced Trump's decision, as departing from New York City would complicate traffic and air travel more than leaving from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
In 2024, Trump attended the ground zero ceremony alongside various officials, including President Biden and Vice President Harris. This year, the ceremony in Manhattan is expected to feature former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama, among others.
Since 2012, the memorial has shifted to a format where families read the names of the deceased, rather than having politicians deliver speeches. Trump’s advisers have previously discussed the possibility of federal oversight of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, amid criticism from families of the victims regarding its management.
On the day of the attacks, Trump was in New York and made comments about his building, 40 Wall Street, gaining prominence after the collapse of the Twin Towers, a statement that was later found to be inaccurate.
Maggie Haberman, Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Dana Rubinstein, and Sally Goldenberg contributed to this report.