Trump to Commemorate September 11 Attacks at the Pentagon Instead of New York
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks at the Pentagon. When asked by reporters why he was not going to New York to commemorate the anniversary, Trump replied, “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.” When pressed on why he could not visit both sites—the Pentagon and the World Trade Center site—Trump repeated his answer.
The White House told Agence France-Presse that Vice President JD Vance would travel to New York, noting that “all three sites will see the presence of U.S. administration officials.” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement: “On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the president will remember those killed by evil terrorists and honor their loved ones and the brave first responders who risked their lives to save American citizens.”
The New York Times had reported that Trump initially intended to mark the anniversary at the World Trade Center site and deliver a speech, but changed his mind because organizers do not permit speeches. Trump earlier posted a lengthy message on social media, sharply criticizing the New York Times report and launching a biting attack on the newspaper’s reporter Maggie Haberman, whom he referred to as “Maggot.”
Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social: “This is another example of fake news. I have visited New York many times over the years, and no one ever gives a speech. The event is a solemn, formal ceremony.” He added, “It never occurred to me what that maggot fabricated. Moreover, I prefer not to speak, because I talk all the time, and this day is dedicated to remembering the victims and their beloved families.”
In a related development, the New York Times reported that a U.S. military judge ruled the day before yesterday that confessions made by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks, to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents would not be admissible as evidence against him during his trial.
The trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and three other defendants accused of participating in planning the attacks is scheduled to begin on June 5, 2028, at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
