The United States has marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with solemn ceremonies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, which reshaped American national security, foreign policy and public consciousness. A quarter-century later, the events remain an indelible part of the country's collective memory.
US Marks 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks, Trump Absent From Ground Zero
The United States has marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with solemn ceremonies in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, which reshaped American national security, foreign policy and public consciousness. A quarter-century later, the events remain an indelible part of the country's collective memory.
One of the most closely watched aspects of this year's commemoration was President Donald Trump's absence from the principal ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City. Instead, Trump attended a separate ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, while Vice President JD Vance joined former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the New York memorial.
A Solemn Gathering at Ground Zero
The commemoration at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum began in the morning, with family members reading aloud the names of those killed in the 2001 attacks and the earlier 1993 World Trade Center bombing. The first moment of silence came at 8:46 a.m., marking the moment when the first hijacked aircraft struck the North Tower.
Seven moments of silence were observed during this year's ceremony. They marked the key moments of the attacks, including the strikes on the World Trade Center, the collapse of the towers, the Pentagon attack and the crash of Flight 93. A further moment honoured people who later died from illnesses and injuries connected to the aftermath of 9/11.
That addition reflects the enduring human consequences of the attacks. The tragedy did not end when the buildings fell. First responders, firefighters, police officers and others who worked at the disaster site faced years of health consequences associated with exposure to hazardous dust and debris.
Trump Commemorates the Anniversary at the Pentagon
Although Trump did not attend the Ground Zero ceremony, he marked the anniversary at the Pentagon alongside First Lady Melania Trump. The ceremony honoured the 184 people killed when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon in 2001.
Trump spoke about national unity, remembrance and America's determination to confront terrorism. His remarks also connected the legacy of September 11 with contemporary American security policy and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
For Trump, the Pentagon was not an unfamiliar setting for the anniversary. He also observed the occasion there in 2025, while his most recent appearance at the Ground Zero ceremony had been in 2024.
Why Was Trump Absent From Ground Zero?
Trump's decision not to attend the New York ceremony attracted considerable attention. Reports published before the anniversary said the president had wanted to deliver remarks at Ground Zero, while the annual ceremony has traditionally focused on the reading of victims' names and does not feature political speeches.
Trump rejected that characterization. He said he was attending the Pentagon because he had been invited to speak there. The competing explanations became part of the wider political discussion surrounding his absence from the New York ceremony.
The issue carried particular symbolic weight because Trump is a native New Yorker and has previously participated in Ground Zero commemorations. Nevertheless, the White House said he would honour the victims, their families and the first responders by attending the Pentagon event.
Four Former Presidents Gather in New York
The appearance of Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama and Biden at the same Ground Zero commemoration was among the most notable elements of the 25th anniversary.
The four former presidents represent different political eras and sharply different governing philosophies. Yet the ceremony placed them together around a common national memory. Vice President Vance also attended the New York event, representing the current administration.
Their presence offered a rare tableau of political continuity. The symbolism was unmistakable: despite intense partisan divisions in contemporary American politics, September 11 remains an event that transcends electoral cycles and presidential administrations.
Remembering Flight 93 in Pennsylvania
A separate ceremony was held at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. United Airlines Flight 93 was hijacked during the attacks and crashed in Pennsylvania.
The morning observance included the reading of the names of the passengers and crew, followed by the ringing of bells of remembrance. Additional events included speeches and a public wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall of Names.
The Shanksville memorial occupies a distinctive place in the national narrative of September 11. It commemorates not only those who died but also the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the flight and its passengers.
A Legacy That Still Shapes America
Twenty-five years after the attacks, the legacy of 9/11 continues to influence American society. The attacks transformed airport security, intelligence operations, counterterrorism policy and U.S. foreign relations.
The consequences also extended into domestic social and political life. The years after the attacks brought difficult debates over civil liberties, immigration policy, national security and the treatment of Muslim Americans. The legacy of 9/11, therefore, cannot be understood solely through the lens of military or security policy. It also forms part of America's broader social history.
The 25th anniversary provided another opportunity for the country to confront that layered legacy.
At Ground Zero, families read the names of those who never returned home. At the Pentagon, the 184 victims of the attack there were remembered. In Pennsylvania, the passengers and crew of Flight 93 were honoured.
Trump's absence from the Ground Zero ceremony became one of the day's prominent political stories, but the wider commemoration carried a message larger than any individual political figure. Twenty-five years on, the United States continues to remember September 11 as a national trauma whose repercussions extend across generations.
The ceremonies also demonstrated the enduring power of collective remembrance. Political differences may shift, administrations may change and public debates may evolve, but the names of those lost remain at the heart of the anniversary.
