On the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, a range of public figures and political leaders paid tribute to the victims and heroes of that day. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Ivanka Trump, and Sarah Jessica Parker took to social media to share their remembrances, joining countless others in honoring the sacrifices made.
Aniston, 57, posted an image on her Instagram Story showing FDNY firefighters in an embrace, writing, "To the extraordinary, brave men and women who, while others were running out, ran in. We remember you, we honor you, and we are forever grateful for you."
Ivanka Trump, 44, shared a photograph of firefighters raising an American flag on the rubble, accompanied by the caption, "25 years later, we remember the lives lost, the heroes who ran toward danger, and the spirit of a nation that came together. We remember. We honor. We will never forget."
Sarah Jessica Parker, 61, posted a video of the "Tribute in Light" art installation in Lower Manhattan, commemorating the anniversary with the message, "September 11th, 2026 25 years. We never forget. I [heart emoji] NY Forever. And ever. X, SJ."
NFL legend Tom Brady, 49, shared an image of a drone display that recreated the Twin Towers. Other notable figures who shared tributes included Lindsay Lohan, Adam Sandler, Hilaria Baldwin, Amy Schumer, and Heidi Klum.
The September 11, 2001 attacks involved 19 hijackers who took control of four commercial airliners. Two planes struck the World Trade Center's Twin Towers in New York City, leading to their collapse and killing 2,753 people. Another plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, resulting in 184 deaths. The fourth aircraft crashed in a field in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers.
In the years following the attacks, the death toll in New York increased to 2,996 due to exposure-related illnesses contracted at Ground Zero. Thousands of emergency responders and others continue to suffer from long-term health issues.
Osama bin Laden, the founder of Al-Qaeda in 1988, was responsible for orchestrating the attacks. He was killed by U.S. forces a decade after the attacks.
New York marked the 25th anniversary with a ceremony attended by Vice President JD Vance and three former presidents: George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton. The event in lower Manhattan saw bereaved family members read the names of the victims, with a bell tolling for significant moments of the attacks. Terry Strada, a widow of a victim, used the occasion to criticize Saudi Arabia's alleged role in the attacks.