Donald Trump has forcefully rejected a New York Times report stating he will not attend the 25th anniversary of September 11 at the World Trade Center in Manhattan, asserting the story is fabricated and labeling the reporter as "PHONY." The Times reported that Trump had expressed a desire to deliver remarks at The National September 11 Memorial and Museum and had previously arranged for his team to visit the site. However, the museum reportedly discouraged this due to its commitment to nonpartisanship.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump attacked reporter Maggie Haberman, calling her a "Fake Reporter" and a "SCAMMER" who "knows less about me than most reporters on the beat." He stated that Haberman "made up a story" suggesting he would be at the Pentagon in Washington D.C. as a featured speaker instead of attending the New York ceremony. Trump added that he "would love not to speak, because I’m speaking all the time, and this is a day to remember the victims, and their beautiful family members."
Trump, who has previously clashed with Haberman over alleged insider information, also accused her of being a "stalker." He indicated that a lawsuit against The New York Times would prove his claims, stating, "If she were ever forced to reveal her “sources,” you will find out they either don’t exist, or didn’t say what she reported. She’s been falsely writing about me for years — she’s a stalker, and should be forced to turn over any and all money that she’s made through her fake reporting on me."
The New York Times reported that Trump would, for the second consecutive year, observe September 11 at a ceremony at the Pentagon, where politicians are permitted to speak. Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the current administration at the New York ceremony, where former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush are also anticipated to be in attendance. Trump is scheduled to return to Washington from the Republican Party's midterm convention in Texas two days before September 11. Following the Pentagon ceremony, he plans to travel to Ireland. His flight arrangements from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland would reportedly be more convenient for local air traffic than departing from the New York area.
Last year, Trump also commemorated September 11 at the Pentagon. He has previously pledged to honor the victims of that day, stating, "We will defend the nation they served, the values they upheld and the freedom for which they died." He has also affirmed, "We will support our troops, we will protect our families, and we will preserve the American way of life for every future generation."
In 2024, Trump attended a Major League Baseball game between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium after the Ground Zero ceremony. His attendance at Ground Zero in 2024 coincided with that of Kamala Harris, where they shared an interaction facilitated by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The event marked a rare occasion where the former president and the then-current administration, including President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris, were present at the same ceremony.