Trump and Mamdani Attend 9/11 Memorials Amid Family Protests
On Friday, the Pentagon hosted President Donald Trump alongside Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The ceremony began at 9:30 a.m. at the U.S. Military headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, according to the Washington Examiner. Trump had originally planned to attend a service in New York before shifting his schedule to deliver an address at the Pentagon.
The event commemorates the crash of American Airlines Flight 77, which killed 64 people on board and 125 inside the building on September 11, 2001. Retired Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa, who worked at the Pentagon before the attack, shared his memories of that day with Fox News. He recalled seeing smoke rise from the building and noted how the structure's design saved many lives compared to the Twin Towers.
While Trump attended the Pentagon, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced intense criticism for his planned attendance at the Ground Zero ceremony in New York. A petition signed by roughly 110,000 people, including victims' families, urged him to stay home due to his appointment of a former al Qaeda defense lawyer. The Fox News report notes that the petition cites the appointment of Ramzi Kassem as city legal counsel as the primary reason for the protest.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined the chorus of critics, stating his personal offense at the mayor's presence. "Having lost friends there and being very close to many of the families, it offends me that he's coming," Giuliani said. Despite the pressure, Mamdani defended his decision to attend, telling reporters he wanted to focus on the families and first responders.
Senator Mark Warner also recalled the events of that Tuesday, watching the smoke rise from the Pentagon as the attacks unfolded. Mizusawa reported a recent meeting with the sole survivor from the staff section that was struck directly by the aircraft. He emphasized that the low-rise structure of the Pentagon prevented a higher death toll than the high-rise towers in New York.
as he honored the nearly 3,000 lives lost. The ceremonies in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia all took place on Friday to mark the quarter-century since the terrorist hijackings.
Vice President JD Vance and former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush were also expected to attend the New York ceremony. The event is an invitation-only gathering hosted by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, focusing on unity and the rejection of violence. Mamdani stated he loves his city and country, insisting the week should focus on those whose loved ones were stolen 25 years ago.
The day serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifice made by first responders and the families who lost everything. As the nation gathers, the focus remains on the nearly 3,000 lives taken and the enduring impact on communities across the country. The pain has never completely gone away for those who lost family members that day.