Donald Trump to skip Ground Zero 9/11 memorial for Pentagon ceremony

President Donald Trump will not attend the 25th-anniversary memorial service at Ground Zero in New York City. Instead, he plans to attend a ceremony at the Pentagon to deliver a speech.

Organizers at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum maintain a long-standing policy that prohibits political speeches during the ceremony to ensure the event remains a non-partisan moment for victims' families. While the President is welcome to attend and observe the silence, the restriction on speaking is a primary reason for his absence from the Manhattan site.

Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the administration at the New York ceremony. Trump has criticized reporting regarding his decision, specifically targeting New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman in a social media post.

Ceremonies for the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks will be held at three locations: New York, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.