America honours 9/11 victims on 25th anniversary of attacks
The United States marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with nationwide tributes remembering the 2,977 people killed when al-Qaeda hijackers flew planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on 11 September 2001. The anniversary carries particular weight this year as a milestone quarter-century since the attacks reshaped US foreign and domestic policy, and it comes amid a fresh row over how the day's history is being retold by senior political figures.
New York City marked the occasion by recreating the Twin Towers using 2,977 illuminated drones, one for each victim, developed with survivors, victims' families and first responders. President Donald Trump gave a speech at the White House honouring first responders, during which he described travelling to Ground Zero shortly afterwards and claimed firefighters pulled him from an unstable building; critics including California Governor Gavin Newsom called the account a "lie" and commentator Rachel Maddow branded it "dubious", prompting Trump to dismiss the criticism as "fake" on Truth Social and to hit out at New York Magazine's coverage of the story.
- US marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks with tributes nationwide
- NYC recreated Twin Towers using 2,977 illuminated drones
- Trump's Ground Zero anecdote sparked dispute with critics over accuracy