Trump Says He Will Mark 9/11's 25th Anniversary at the Pentagon, Not Ground Zero

President Trump said he plans to attend the Pentagon's 9/11 commemoration on September 11, 2026 rather than the traditional ceremony at Ground Zero in New York, telling reporters simply: 'Because I'm going to the Pentagon.' The announcement followed a New York Times report claiming Trump had wanted to attend the Ground Zero ceremony but decided against it after organizers would not let him speak, since the annual reading-of-names program does not permit speeches. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung called the report 'FAKE NEWS,' and a senior administration official separately called it false without elaborating. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump, 'as a New Yorker,' will 'remember those who were killed... honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders.' Vice President JD Vance is instead expected to attend the Ground Zero ceremony, while other administration officials will represent the White House at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Trump attended the Ground Zero ceremony in 2024 alongside then-President Biden and then-Vice President Harris, but visited the Pentagon on 9/11/2025 before attending a Yankees game.