Archive · 29 Aug 2026
Trump to Mark 25th 9/11 Anniversary at Pentagon
President Donald Trump plans to remember the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon.
The attacks happened 25 years earlier and killed nearly 3,000 people.
Hijacked planes crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania.
Vice President JD Vance will attend the ceremony in New York.
Other government officials will represent the administration in Shanksville.
Trump said he is going to the Pentagon instead of New York.
The New York Times reported that a disagreement about speeches influenced the decision.
Trump rejected that explanation and said the New York ceremony is meant to be solemn and remember victims and their families.
President Donald Trump will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon.
Vice President JD Vance will attend the New York ceremony, while other administration officials will attend in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Trump said he would not attend the New York ceremony because he was going to the Pentagon.
The New York Times reported that Trump changed plans after learning that the New York memorial does not allow speeches; Trump denied that account.
The 2001 attacks killed nearly 3,000 people at sites in New York, near Washington and in Pennsylvania.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other U.S. administration officials.
- What
- Trump will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks at the Pentagon rather than at the New York ceremony.
- When
- On the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks; Trump confirmed the plans on Friday.
- Where
- The Pentagon, the New York Twin Towers memorial and the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- Why
- The New York Times attributed the change to the memorial’s policy against speeches, while Trump denied that explanation and said he planned to attend the Pentagon.
New York Times Account
Trump’s Account
Reason for attending the Pentagon
New York Times Account
The New York Times reported that Trump initially intended to make remarks at the Twin Towers site but changed plans because the memorial does not allow speeches.
Trump’s Account
Trump denied that report, saying he never considered the reported plan and was going to the Pentagon.
Role of speeches at the New York ceremony
New York Times Account
The report presented the memorial’s ban on speeches as a factor in Trump’s decision not to attend the New York event.
Trump’s Account
Trump said the New York ceremony is solemn and that no one speaks there; he added that he would prefer not to speak because the day is for remembering victims and their families.
- Anniversary
- The 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks.
- Death toll
- Nearly 3,000 people were killed.
- Trump’s ceremony
- Trump will attend the ceremony at the Pentagon.
- New York ceremony
- Vice President JD Vance will attend the commemoration in New York.
- Pennsylvania ceremony
- Other administration officials will attend the observance in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
- Attack sites
- The attacks struck the Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon near Washington and a field in Pennsylvania.
- Trump’s recent attendance
- Trump last attended the Ground Zero ceremony in 2024 and attended the Pentagon ceremony the previous year.
