Trump Marks 25th Anniversary of September 11 at the Pentagon
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended a ceremony at the Pentagon on September 11, 2026, marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the deadliest terrorist attack in American history. It was the second consecutive year Trump chose the Pentagon as his primary venue for the day. Vice President JD Vance represented the administration at the World Trade Center memorial in New York City, while administration officials led a separate observance at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The Pentagon Ceremony
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unfurled a giant American flag in heavy rain at daybreak as the ceremony began. The names of all 184 victims who died at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, were read aloud, with a bell tolling between each name. Trump addressed survivors, first responders, military personnel, and families gathered for the occasion. “We will never, ever forget. That’s why we fight today,” he said. “We were all New Yorkers that day.”
Trump issued a presidential proclamation designating September 11 “Patriot Day 2026” and then traveled to Dublin, Ireland, following the ceremony.
National Security and the Ongoing Toll
Trump used the occasion to draw a connection between the attacks and present-day threats, identifying Iran as the “world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror.” Hegseth made the same argument in his remarks. The death toll from September 11 has not stopped rising in the 25 years since the attacks, as first responders and survivors continue to die from illnesses tied to exposure at the attack sites. Advocacy groups have pressed at every anniversary for expanded federal support for those still living with the physical consequences of that day.
Steel Across America
Before traveling to the Pentagon, Trump joined an event at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., centered on a 21-foot steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The beam had been carried to cities across the country as part of the Steel Across America tour, a traveling exhibition connecting communities to the physical remnants of the towers. For many Americans, encounters like this one sit alongside the films and documentaries that have shaped public memory of the attacks over the past quarter century.
Ground Zero and Shanksville
At the World Trade Center site in New York, Vance joined former presidents, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Senator Chuck Schumer. Lutnick, whose firm Cantor Fitzgerald lost more than 600 employees in the attacks, has been a fixture at the ceremony for years. Terry Strada, a widow who lost her husband on September 11, spoke directly to the vice president: “Tell the Saudis to stop lying.” Mayor Mamdani’s presence drew criticism from several 9/11 families and from former Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
At the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, administration officials led the observance honoring the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93. The site draws thousands of visitors each year for anniversary tributes, and has become a central destination for those seeking to mark the day at the place where Flight 93 went down after passengers attempted to take back control of the aircraft.
Vance and the Night Before
Vance had been in Dallas the night before, delivering the closing keynote at the Republican National Convention. During his speech, the crowd chanted “48,” a reference widely understood to point toward the 2028 presidential race. He flew to New York overnight and arrived in time for the Ground Zero ceremony.
The 25th anniversary drew officials, survivors, and families to three separate sites, each with its own character and its own history. How people observe the day has always been personal, shaped by individual grief and the religious beliefs families carry with them. For thousands of people still living with illness or with the absence of those they lost, the remembrance remains less a public event than a private, ongoing one.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.