Why Trump Is Skipping Ground Zero on 9/11 Anniversary
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New York is in the final stages of preparations for the major memorial ceremony at Ground Zero, where the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the destruction of the Twin Towers will be remembered Friday. But one very prominent name will be missing from Ground Zero: Donald Trump. The 80-year-old U.S. president will mark the 25th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in American history — which killed 2,977 victims — at another site struck by the hijackers: the Pentagon outside Washington. Trump is expected to deliver remarks there, while Vice President JD Vance, 42, has been sent to represent the White House in New York.
But why is Trump staying away from Ground Zero, in his former hometown and at the location that will receive the greatest international attention on the historic anniversary? Several theories are circulating about the real reasons behind his decision, ranging from a dispute over whether he could deliver a speech to security concerns connected to Iran and simple logistical considerations surrounding his travel schedule.
Ground Zero Theory 1: Did a “speech ban” stop Trump?
The New York Times reported that Trump had originally planned to travel to Manhattan and wanted to deliver remarks at Ground Zero. There was one problem: Political speeches are not part of the traditional September 11 ceremony. The focus of the solemn event at Ground Zero is on the victims and their families, who read aloud the names of those killed while presidents, former presidents and other political leaders attend as guests and listen. According to the Times, the inability to deliver a speech was one factor in Trump changing his plans.
Trump strongly disputes that account. He has made clear that he knows politicians do not deliver speeches during what he described as a “solemn ceremony,” and he also lashed out at Times reporter Maggie Haberman, 52, over the reporting. There is, however, one obvious difference between Ground Zero and the Pentagon: Presidential remarks are traditionally a central part of the Pentagon ceremony. For Trump, that venue offers a prominent stage to deliver his own 9/11 message on the historic 25th anniversary — something he would not be able to do in the same way at Ground Zero.
Ground Zero Theory 2: A security threat from Iran?
Another theory centers on Trump’s security. Amid repeated Iranian threats against the president and his family, speculation has grown that a presidential appearance at Ground Zero may have created an unusually difficult security operation. The memorial sits in the heart of densely built Lower Manhattan, surrounded by skyscrapers, narrow streets and a huge concentration of visitors. Thousands of victims’ relatives, first responders, political dignitaries and members of the public are expected around Ground Zero, creating an enormous challenge for the Secret Service.
Against the backdrop of the ongoing war with Iran, some have wondered whether Trump’s security detail viewed such a highly symbolic outdoor location as an unnecessary risk. Iranian threats against Trump and his family are not hypothetical, and the Secret Service recently confirmed that it was aware of an Iranian state-media video appearing to threaten Trump’s son Barron. Still, there is no concrete evidence that the Iran threat is the reason Trump decided not to attend Ground Zero. Vice President Vance has publicly rejected the suggestion that a special security concern was behind the decision, meaning the Iran explanation remains speculation rather than an established fact.
Ground Zero Theory 3: Is it simply about Trump’s travel plans?
There may also be a far more practical explanation for Trump’s absence from Ground Zero. Trump plans to travel to Ireland shortly after the anniversary, including a visit connected to his golf resort in Doonbeg. Leaving New York through JFK or Newark with a presidential motorcade, Secret Service operation and the logistical demands surrounding Air Force One would create major additional complications. Departing from the Washington area and Joint Base Andrews would be considerably easier and more efficient.
And then there is another intriguing factor: Trump would encounter virtually the entire club of living former presidents at Ground Zero. All four living former U.S. presidents — Bill Clinton, 80, George W. Bush, 80, Barack Obama, 65, and Joe Biden, 83 — are expected to attend the New York ceremony. Trump rarely has kind words for several of them, especially political rivals Obama and Biden. There is no evidence that their presence caused Trump to stay away from Ground Zero, but the symbolism will be impossible to miss: Four former presidents gathered together at the site of the destroyed Twin Towers while the sitting president commemorates the anniversary hundreds of miles away at the Pentagon.
Trump himself has offered a far simpler explanation when asked why he will not be at Ground Zero: “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.”
The official explanation, therefore, remains straightforward: Trump will represent the presidency at the Pentagon while Vance attends Ground Zero. But the combination of the reported speech dispute, extraordinary security concerns surrounding Iran, travel logistics and the presence of four former presidents has ensured that Trump’s absence from Ground Zero will itself become one of the most closely watched political storylines of the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
