President Donald Trump joined 9/11 anniversary memorials near the Pentagon on September 11, 2026, diverging from the main lower Manhattan ceremony where organizers ban political speeches, according to reporting by the Associated Press and The New York Times.
Pentagon Ceremony and Presidential Speeches
Addressing crowds near the Pentagon, President Trump marked the 25th anniversary by emphasizing national unity and foreign policy objectives. According to the Associated Press, the president stated that Americans stood together as one family following the attacks. Trump also used his remarks to address military personnel and foreign adversaries. “We hold up the soldiers who are right now working on that to make sure that the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism—the Islamic Republic of Iran—never, ever gets a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, as reported by the Associated Press.
The decision to appear at the Pentagon rather than New York stemmed from differing event policies, according to The New York Times. While the National September 11 Memorial & Museum enforces a strict no-speech rule to maintain solemnity, the Washington site features no such restriction. President Trump rejected claims on Truth Social that his absence from New York was tied directly to the speaking ban, maintaining his preference for the Pentagon venue where he also spoke the previous year.
Did you know?
The September 11 attacks carried out by al-Qaeda involved four hijacked airplanes, resulting in 2,996 deaths—including 19 hijackers—and roughly 25,000 injuries, with over 1,100 victims still unidentified, according to records cited by iROZHLAS.
Lower Manhattan Ceremony and High-Profile Attendance
The primary commemoration took place at the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan on September 11, 2026, drawing a large contingent of current and former political figures. According to iROZHLAS and agency reports, attendees included Vice President J.D. Vance, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and all four living former presidents: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.
The attendance of Mayor Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, drew pushback from certain family members of victims. The New York Times reported that a petition circulated by relatives argued that the mayor’s presence risked pulling attention away from the solemnity of the anniversary. Despite the friction, Mamdani participated in multiple commemorative events leading up to the date, including community support efforts.
Victims’ Families Challenge Past Administrations Over Saudi Arabia
At the New York memorial, relatives of those killed directed sharp criticism toward past U.S. administrations regarding alleged ties between the attacks and Saudi Arabia. Terry Stradaová, chair of the 9/11 Families United association whose husband Tom died in the twin towers, addressed the gathering of former presidents directly. According to AFP, Stradaová accused successive administrations of shielding the kingdom.
“Administration after administration, including the leaders sitting here today, chose during those 25 years to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the families of 9/11 victims,” Stradaová stated during the ceremony. Stradaová pointed to ongoing litigation filed by the group against Saudi Arabia, alleging state support for the hijackers. Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers were nationals of Saudi Arabia, which has consistently denied any involvement in the 2001 atrocities.
Following Stradaová’s remarks, other relatives called on President Trump to declassify unredacted documents concerning the kingdom’s alleged role, urging the current administration to press Riyadh for full transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did President Trump attend the Pentagon memorial instead of New York?
According to The New York Times, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York prohibits speeches to preserve a strict, non-partisan atmosphere. President Trump opted for the Pentagon venue where speaking is permitted, though he disputed claims that the New York restriction was the sole reason for his scheduling choice.
Who attended the New York City ceremony on the 25th anniversary?
According to iROZHLAS, the lower Manhattan ceremony included Vice President J.D. Vance, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton.
What were the main criticisms raised by victims’ families?
Speaking at the New York memorial, family representatives like Terry Stradaová criticized past U.S. leaders for shielding Saudi Arabia from legal accountability, pointing to ongoing lawsuits and demanding the release of unredacted government documents.
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