President Donald Trump is scheduled to observe the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by attending a ceremony at the Pentagon. The event will commemorate the lives lost when al-Qaida militants hijacked four planes, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths across three locations and significantly reshaping American foreign policy and national security.
This marks the second consecutive year Trump will attend the Pentagon commemoration. He previously attended the ground zero ceremony in New York in 2024.
Vice President JD Vance is slated to attend the observance in New York, alongside former presidents. Other administration officials will be present at the ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
During last year's Pentagon ceremony, Trump delivered remarks recounting moments from the day of the attacks, including dialogue from passengers on the hijacked airplanes. On Tuesday, at an event outside the White House, Trump stated his commitment to "never forget" the victims, describing the Sept. 11 attacks as a pivotal moment that divided history.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation spearheaded the Tuesday event, which featured a 21-foot steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. This beam, part of the Steel Across America tour, was destined for New York for a procession retracing the steps of firefighter Stephen Siller.
On Wednesday, Trump issued a proclamation designating Friday as "Patriot Day 2026." The proclamation detailed the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and asserted his administration's dedication to maintaining a strong national defense.
Earlier in the week, at the Republican midterms convention in Dallas on Thursday night, the 25th anniversary was also marked with families of victims and firefighters present. The names of those lost were displayed on a screen, and a bell was rung to honor fallen firefighters.