Vice President JD Vance will attend the 9/11 Ground Zero commemoration in New York City next week, joining former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, as well as former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush. The event marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Former President Donald Trump will instead attend a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, where he will deliver remarks. Other administration officials will represent the White House at the Shanksville, Pennsylvania, memorial, covering all three attack sites.
During a White House press briefing on Thursday, Vance addressed questions about Trump’s absence from the New York ceremony. He stated that the decision was based on scheduling logistics, noting that high-ranking officials cannot be in multiple locations simultaneously. Vance emphasized that the Pentagon commemoration was equally critical to the remembrance.
“As much as it’s tragic and it was a terrible day, I am looking forward to it because it’s such an amazing honor to be able to get to go to New York and to share in that moment,” Vance said.
Vance also joked about potential interactions with former President Joe Biden, who will be present at the Ground Zero ceremony. “I’m really looking forward to hanging out with Joe Biden,” Vance remarked. “I’m sure that we’ll have many, many intense intellectual conversations.”
The White House has not provided additional details regarding security concerns related to Trump’s absence from New York, though Vance indicated he would follow up with the Secret Service for clarification. The administration has framed the decision as a logistical necessity rather than a security-related one.
The 9/11 remembrance events will span multiple locations, with each site honoring the lives lost in the attacks. The New York ceremony will focus on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon event will commemorate the attack on the military headquarters, and the Shanksville service will honor the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, who prevented further destruction by downing their hijacked plane in a field.