Trump denies skipping Ground Zero 9/11 ceremony over speech ban
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Donald Trump rejected a New York Times report that he would miss the 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony at the World Trade Center because he was not permitted to speak. He said he would be content not to give remarks, arguing that the occasion should focus on victims and their families; the dispute highlights continuing tension between Trump and the Times reporter Maggie Haberman.
The Times reportedly said Trump’s team had explored a Ground Zero appearance but that the memorial’s nonpartisan policy, which has barred political speeches since 2012, ruled out remarks. Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the administration in New York, alongside former presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and George W Bush, while Trump is expected to speak at the Pentagon ceremony before travelling to Ireland.
- Trump denied avoiding Ground Zero over a speaking ban.
- Memorial policy bars politicians from speaking.
- Vance is expected to attend the New York ceremony.
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The attacks of 11 September 2001 were carried out by al-Qaeda, when hijacked passenger planes struck targets in the United States, including the World Trade Center in New York. Nearly 3,000 people were killed, and the site of the destroyed towers, known as Ground Zero, is now home to a memorial and museum.
Anniversary ceremonies are held each year to remember those who died, with relatives reading victims’ names and public figures often attending. The New York memorial has sought to keep its main ceremony nonpartisan, limiting political activity and speeches so that the focus remains on commemoration.
Donald Trump is the US president and is expected to attend a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, which was also attacked on 11 September. The anniversary also brings together former presidents and other senior officials, reflecting the national significance of the attacks across political divisions.
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The case for
Trump’s account is that a 9/11 memorial should centre victims, survivors and bereaved families rather than any political figure, and that he was willing to attend without speaking. Supporters may argue that his planned appearance at the Pentagon still marks the anniversary appropriately, while the vice-president’s attendance in New York ensures the administration is represented. On this view, treating an unverified account of a dispute over remarks as the reason for his absence risks turning a solemn commemoration into political controversy.
The case against
Critics may argue that the report raises a legitimate concern because the World Trade Center memorial’s ban on political speeches is designed to protect its nonpartisan character. They may contend that a president’s presence at Ground Zero on such a significant anniversary matters independently of whether he is given a platform, particularly alongside former presidents. On this view, any suggestion that speaking conditions affected the decision could appear at odds with the stated principle that the day belongs foremost to the victims and their families.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Trump fires back at NYT reporter who claimed he is skipping 9/11 service at World Trade Center”.