25 Years After 9/11, Trump Skips Ground Zero as New York Honors Victims Amid Mamdani Controversy

NEW YORK — New York marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks Friday with solemn ceremonies at Ground Zero, as families read the names of those killed and Americans reflected on a tragedy whose consequences continue to shape the nation a quarter-century later.

President Donald Trump chose to commemorate the anniversary at the Pentagon rather than attend the main ceremony in Lower Manhattan, where hijacked commercial airliners destroyed the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers and killed thousands.

Vice President JD Vance joined former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden at the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan. Their presence brought together leaders from different political eras for one of the country’s most significant days of remembrance.

The Ground Zero ceremony followed its traditional format, with relatives of the victims reading the names of those who died. Bells marked key moments in the morning’s timeline, including the moments when the hijacked planes struck the towers and when the buildings collapsed.

“Memorials like this and discussions about what happened are an important part of keeping the memory alive and understanding how we prevent something like this from happening again,” Robert Kafka, a Chicago resident visiting the 9/11 Memorial, said.

Mamdani Faces Backlash as 9/11 Health Crisis Remains a Lasting Legacy

The appearance of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani added another layer of political tension to the anniversary. Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, faced criticism from conservative figures and groups over his participation in the ceremony.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was in office when the attacks occurred, had opposed Mamdani’s presence. The controversy highlighted the political divisions surrounding the anniversary even as officials and families called for the day to remain focused on the victims.

City Council member Shahana Hanif defended Mamdani against what she described as unequal treatment based on his faith.

“It is deeply concerning to me that the mayor is being treated differently simply because he is Muslim,” Hanif said.

Mamdani has also received attention for his administration’s decision to release a large collection of previously restricted city records concerning the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks.

The documents provide additional information about air quality, government response and environmental conditions in Lower Manhattan after the towers collapsed. The disaster released enormous amounts of dust and hazardous material into the surrounding area, exposing first responders, residents, workers and others to toxic substances.

Mamdani has argued that the long-term health consequences of 9/11 should not be separated from the decisions made in the days and weeks following the attacks.

“People got sick because the leaders they trusted lied and told them they were safe to breathe in toxic air,” Mamdani said.

The health consequences remain profound. Thousands of first responders, survivors and people who lived or worked near the World Trade Center have developed illnesses associated with exposure to the disaster’s aftermath.

Cancer, respiratory illnesses and other chronic conditions have become part of the enduring legacy of 9/11. Federal health programs continue to provide treatment and monitoring for tens of thousands of people affected by exposure.

The attacks themselves were carried out by 19 Al Qaeda hijackers who seized control of four commercial airplanes.

Two hijacked planes crashed into the upper floors of the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both buildings to collapse. A third plane struck the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense, in Virginia.

Two aircraft were flown into the World Trade Center towers in Manhattan, causing both buildings to collapse. A third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew attempted to regain control of the aircraft.

A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks, excluding the 19 hijackers.

Twenty-five years later, the events of September 11 have also become increasingly distant for younger Americans. Millions were either not yet born or were too young to remember the attacks firsthand.

For families who lost loved ones, however, the anniversary remains deeply personal.

Logan Miller, 32, whose uncle and grandfather died from illnesses associated with the aftermath of 9/11, said younger generations increasingly encounter the tragedy through questions rather than personal memories.

“I think the next generation can’t imagine what actually happened and how someone could be affected by it, so I’m seeing them ask more questions,” Miller told AFP.

Security was also heightened around the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. Authorities deployed counter-drone measures as a precaution, although police officials said there was no specific intelligence indicating a threat to the anniversary ceremonies.

In another tribute, a drone display featuring 2,977 points of light illuminated the sky above New York Harbor, with each light representing one person killed in the attacks.

The images offered a powerful visual reminder of the human cost of that September morning.

A quarter-century after the towers fell, the memorial ceremonies remain anchored in the same ritual: names, silence, bells and remembrance.

But the 25th anniversary also underscored how the legacy of 9/11 extends far beyond the events of a single day — from the families who continue to mourn to survivors and first responders still battling serious illnesses.

For a new generation that did not witness the attacks, the challenge is increasingly one of memory: understanding what happened, preserving the stories of those who were there and ensuring that the lessons of September 11 are not lost with time.

Never forget.

Al-Qaeda Revives Bin Laden Image

Hamza bin Laden.

As the United States marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks, Al-Qaeda circulated propaganda featuring its late founder, Osama bin Laden, and his son, Hamza bin Laden. The material, distributed through Al-Qaeda’s media network, As-Sahab, brought renewed attention to Hamza, whose reported death had previously been cited by U.S. officials, although Al-Qaeda has not publicly confirmed his death.

Osama bin Laden, and his son, Hamza bin Laden.

Counterterrorism analysts say the release does not necessarily indicate an imminent attack, but reflects Al-Qaeda’s continued effort to preserve the legacy and ideological narrative associated with its former leadership.

Antonio Giustozzi, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said that while Al-Qaeda’s influence has declined significantly since 9/11, the organization remains “still remarkably influential.”

(APZ)