Trump to Mark the 25th Anniversary at Pentagon
Sandego.net – Trump to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks will mean a speech at the Pentagon rather than a visit to the World Trade Center memorial. For the first time since entering office, President Donald Trump will skip the ground zero ceremony on September 11, 2026. Two people familiar with the planning told CNN the reason is straightforward: the president wants to deliver remarks, and the memorial site does not allow elected officials to speak at its annual event.
The Speaking Ban That Moved the Venue
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has prohibited elected officials from addressing the New York ceremony since 2012, a rule the organization describes as part of its nonpartisan commitment. Early in the planning cycle, Trump’s team explored sending him to Manhattan. That option fell apart once the president made clear he intended to give a speech, sources said. The Pentagon, where a second plane struck on the morning of September 11, 2001, carries no such restriction for the sitting president.
Vice President JD Vance will represent the administration at the World Trade Center ceremony, ensuring the executive branch is present in New York even as the president addresses a different audience in Washington.
What the President Said Last Year
The Pentagon has become a recurring stage for the president’s anniversary remarks. Last year, one day after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, Trump opened his address by acknowledging the national grief surrounding Kirk’s killing.
“The horror and grief so many Americans at the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk have felt,” Trump said, before announcing he would posthumously award Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
He then turned to the victims of 2001.
“In the quarter of a century since those acts of mass murder, 9/11 family members have felt the weight of missed birthdays and empty bedrooms, journals left unfinished and dreams left unfulfilled,” Trump said. “To every member that still feels a void every day of your lives, the first lady and I unite with you in sorrow. And today, as one nation, we renew our sacred vow that we will never forget September 11th, 2001.”
A Pattern of Commemoration
Trump was in New York City on the morning of September 11, 2001, and has spoken publicly about watching the towers fall. In prior years he attended the New York memorial, including in 2016 as the Republican presidential nominee and again in 2024 ahead of his second campaign. During his first term he participated at the Pentagon and at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In 2021, for the 20th anniversary, he visited NYPD and FDNY stations in Manhattan to honor first responders. Choosing the Pentagon for Trump to mark the 25th anniversary continues his pattern of speaking at that site while president, while breaking from his earlier habit of attending the New York ceremony as a candidate or private citizen.
White House Framing and Travel Logistics
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CNN in a written statement that the president’s personal connection to the day would shape his remarks.
“As a proud New Yorker, President Trump has spoken about his own experiences watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001,” Kelly said, adding that the president “will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans.”
The Pentagon location also eases a tight travel schedule. Trump is slated to depart for Ireland on September 12, the day after the anniversary, to attend the Irish Open golf tournament at his Doonbeg course on the country’s Atlantic coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Trump skipping ground zero this year? The World Trade Center memorial prohibits elected officials from delivering remarks at its annual ceremony. Because the president wanted to speak, his
