Archive · 11 Sep 2026
New York Marks 25th 9/11 Anniversary Amid Security, Debate
New York held a ceremony to remember the people killed in the September 11 attacks 25 years ago.
The attacks involved four hijacked planes and killed 2,977 people.
Families read the victims’ names, and a bell marked important moments from that day.
President Donald Trump attended a different ceremony at the Pentagon.
Vice President JD Vance and four former presidents attended or were expected at the New York memorial.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York’s first Muslim mayor, also attended.
Some people criticized his attendance, while others said he was being treated unfairly because he is Muslim.
Thousands of people have also become sick or died from illnesses linked to pollution after the attacks.
New York held a Ground Zero ceremony marking 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks that killed 2,977 people.
President Donald Trump attended a separate remembrance at the Pentagon rather than the New York ceremony.
Vice President JD Vance and former presidents George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton attended or were expected at Ground Zero.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended despite a petition backed by critics who objected to his presence and cited his associations and views on extremist ideologies.
Security was tightened with a Secret Service perimeter and an anti-drone team, while police said there was no intelligence indicating a specific threat.
- Who
- Families of victims, current and former U.S. leaders, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, first responders and members of the public participated in or attended the commemorations.
- What
- New York commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a Ground Zero ceremony, while debates continued over presidential attendance and Mamdani’s presence.
- When
- Friday, on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- Where
- At the 9/11 Memorial and Museum site in lower Manhattan; Trump attended a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, and a commemorative drone show took place over New York Harbor.
- Why
- To remember the victims, preserve public understanding of the attacks and address their continuing health effects.
Supporters of Mamdani’s Attendance
Critics of Mamdani’s Attendance
Whether Mamdani should attend
Supporters of Mamdani’s Attendance
Supporters, including City Council member Shahana Hanif, said Mamdani was being treated differently because he is Muslim and should participate in the city’s official remembrance.
Critics of Mamdani’s Attendance
Critics, including the New York Post and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, backed a petition urging Mamdani to stay away, citing concerns about his associations and whether he was sufficiently critical of extremist ideologies.
Public accountability after the attacks
Supporters of Mamdani’s Attendance
Mamdani received praise for releasing documents about what city officials knew regarding air toxicity in Lower Manhattan and said leaders had wrongly told people it was safe to breathe.
Critics of Mamdani’s Attendance
The articles report that critics focused on Mamdani’s alleged associations and views, rather than endorsing his disclosures about post-attack air quality.
Trump’s separate ceremony
Supporters of Mamdani’s Attendance
Trump’s attendance at the Pentagon allowed him to commemorate the attack at another major site while the Ground Zero event included Vice President Vance and four former presidents.
Critics of Mamdani’s Attendance
Critics of the arrangement viewed Trump’s absence from Ground Zero as notable because New York was the site where most victims were killed; the articles do not report Trump’s stated reason for attending the Pentagon instead.
- Anniversary
- 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks
- People killed
- 2,977 people died in the attacks
- Attack details
- Nineteen Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four planes; two struck the World Trade Center, one hit the Pentagon and one crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania
- Ceremony
- Family members read the victims’ names, while a bell marked major moments of the attacks; the ceremony was designed to be apolitical and include no speeches
- Related illnesses
- More than 9,400 people have died from 9/11-related illnesses, according to the federal medical-care program for affected people
- Security
- The Secret Service established a security perimeter, and police deployed an anti-drone team as a precaution
- Threat assessment
- Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said there was no intelligence indicating a specific threat to the gathering
- Memorial lights
- A drone show used 2,977 lights over New York Harbor, one for each person killed
