The Republican billionaire sought to link the “war on terror” that followed 9/11, which sparked years of US involvement in Middle East wars, with his current conflict in Iran. “Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago.
We will never, ever forget. That’s why we fight today,” Trump said. “We don’t have a choice. There can only be victory. We fight hard. We fight to win.” Vice President JD Vance and Trump’s four living predecessors—Republican George W. Bush, who was in office during the attacks, and Democrats Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton—attended the event at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.
There, a huge crowd gathered for the somber annual ceremony, which retraced the events of 9/11 minute by minute, concluding shortly before 1:00 pm. As usual, the names of the victims were read out, and a bell was rung to mark major moments in the attack. The event is generally apolitical with no speeches. But several bereaved family members who read out the names of those killed criticized Saudi Arabia and US leaders’ closeness to the kingdom.
‘We have no justice’
Terry Strada, whose husband Tom Strada died in the Twin Towers, unleashed a stinging attack on Riyadh, accusing it of complicity in the attacks, and denouncing former presidents who were in attendance. “You are missed more with each year that passes, but how can it be 25 years and still we have no justice for the role that Saudi Arabia played in your murder?” she said. The September 11, 2001 attacks were carried out by mostly Saudi hijackers and orchestrated by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a wealthy Saudi.
“For 25 years, administration after administration—including leaders in front of us here today—chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with a 9/11 family,” Strada said, calling for action from the absent Trump. In New York, Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Big Apple’s first Muslim leader, attended the Ground Zero event despite a campaign urging him to stay away. That effort was spearheaded by the right-wing New York Post newspaper and former mayor and Trump ally Rudy Giuliani, who led the city through the crisis and was also present on Friday. The petition gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
A small anti-Islam protest gathered at City Hall and marched towards Ground Zero, flanked by a heavy police presence and counter-protesters. Mamdani won plaudits for revealing thousands of documents showing what city officials knew about toxicity levels of the air in Lower Manhattan following the attacks. After the initial dust cloud that followed the collapse of the World Trade Center, months of pollution and lingering dust ensued, causing cancers from which thousands of New Yorkers still suffer today. The CIA also declassified and published dozens of 9/11-related presidential intelligence briefs to coincide with the 25th anniversary.
‘New York did recover’
Nineteen Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked four airliners on the nearly cloudless autumn day in 2001. Two of the jets slammed into the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers, causing the iconic skyscrapers to collapse. A third plane struck the Pentagon, while a fourth—believed to have been aiming for Congress or the White House—crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers fought back. Some 100 million Americans have been born since or are too young to remember the traumatic day.
Sophia Rotunno, 58, recalls watching the first tower fall with colleagues back in 2001, and also remembers helping those affected in the aftermath. “All we could do is support them, and be there for when they went to memorials, or be there for when they came home, and hug them, and pray for them,” she said. “It was a hard time for everybody afterward—and New York did recover.” Al-Qaeda meanwhile marked the anniversary by releasing a video showing images of the late Bin Laden and his son Hamza, who Trump said in 2019 had also been killed. – AFP
25 Years After 9/11, a Nation Gathers to Remember
Solemn ceremonies at ground zero in New York, and across the United States, mourned the thousands of lives lost. President Trump paid tribute to the victims in a speech at the Pentagon.
Trump, Mamdani and AOC Face Criticism Over Reactions to 9/11 Commemorations
President Donald Trump, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez faced backlash Friday over their appearances at 9/11 commemorations, with critics accusing them of inappropriate behavior.
At Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez faced criticism after footage appeared to show them smiling and laughing during the ceremony as the names of those killed in the attacks were read aloud.
Meanwhile, Trump was accused of falling asleep during a Pentagon 9/11 memorial ceremony, after images showing him with his eyes closed circulated online.
A Fox News clip of Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez, showing them appearing to smile at each other, was shared by several high-profile Republicans after the ceremony, claiming that they were not fit for public service if they were laughing during such a solemn occasion.
“How the hell do you laugh while the names of those murdered on 9/11 are being read aloud? Why would you do so?” Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz asked on X, alongside the clip.
“Why the f–k are these two laughing?!?” conservative commentator Meghan McCain also wrote on X, sharing the same video.
Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina posted a still from the video, adding that, “If laughing at Ground Zero while names are being read during the 25th anniversary of 9/11 is your thing, perhaps public service isn’t your calling.”
However, one of the attendees at the event, who described himself as a “lifelong Republican,” told Newsweek that the footage was taken out of context.
The 1600
Michael Ragusa, a former EMT with the New York City Fire Department who ran an unsuccessful GOP New York City Council race in 2023, told Newsweek that the video simply showed Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, greeting Mamdani, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
“AOC was standing in the back of the line, she waited for the proper time to come greet the mayor,” he said. “That video is her greeting the mayor and that’s it.”
Ragusa said that Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez remained very respectful, in contrast to “multiple Democrats and Republicans who I will not name were on their phones, laughing, talking while the names were being read.”
“I was next to them for 2 hours,” he added. “They were very respectful and stayed the entire time. I am a lifelong Republican saying this.”
The criticism came as victims’ relatives and friends gathered at the memorial plaza to remember loved ones killed in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania in the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Mamdani’s presence at the ceremony had already been politically contentious. Some relatives of 9/11 victims had urged the mayor to stay away from the anniversary events, while Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul defended his attendance.
“The mayor of New York City will be there, as he should be,” Hochul said.
Mamdani nevertheless attended Friday’s ceremony, where he was also photographed shaking hands with Rudy Giuliani, who was the city’s mayor on September 11, 2001.
The controversy surrounding Mamdani follows months of political disputes over his views and his handling of issues connected to terrorism and the city’s response to the attacks.
Newsweek has reached out to Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez via email for comment on Friday.
Trump Faces Heat Over Pentagon Memorial Event
Trump faced his own share of criticism over his behavior at a 9/11 memorial event in Virginia.
The president attended the 25th anniversary commemoration at the Pentagon alongside first lady Melania Trump. During the ceremony, television footage showed Trump sitting with his eyes closed for periods of time, prompting some viewers on social media to accuse him of falling asleep.
Images of the president quickly circulated online, with critics describing his appearance as disrespectful to the victims and their families. Others pushed back, arguing that the footage did not prove Trump had fallen asleep and noting that the president had attended a political event the previous evening.
The White House rejected claims that Trump had been sleeping.
A White House spokesman told Newsweek that Trump was “solemnly listening and remembering the victims and heroic first responders. Anyone ridiculously claiming the president was asleep is lying.”
Trump’s appearance was particularly notable given his long-running attacks on former President Joe Biden over questions surrounding Biden’s age and alertness. Trump repeatedly used the nickname “Sleepy Joe” during Biden’s presidency.
Day of Remembrance Becomes Political Flashpoint
The competing controversies highlighted the intensely political atmosphere surrounding the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
At Ground Zero, political speeches are prohibited during the New York ceremony, which traditionally focuses on the victims and their families. At the Pentagon, however, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the gathering after the names of the victims were read.
Vice President JD Vance attended the Ground Zero ceremony in New York, where he joined the four living former presidents—Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
For many families, however, the day’s focus remained on remembering those who died.
The attacks on September 11, 2001, killed nearly 3,000 people after hijackers seized four commercial airplanes. Two planes were crashed into the World Trade Center in New York, one struck the Pentagon, and a fourth crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew members attempted to retake control of the aircraft.
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