Key facts
- President Donald Trump will not attend the 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero.
- Vice President JD Vance is expected to attend the Ground Zero ceremony.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing calls from some Republicans and victims' families to stay away from the ceremony.
- Mamdani's past statements and associations have drawn criticism, though he has moderated his language as mayor.
- Trump will attend a separate 9/11 commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon.
- A poll indicates 74% of New York City residents surveyed believe Mamdani should attend the ceremony.
The 25th anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks is marked by political division, with President Donald Trump opting to skip the main commemoration ceremony at Ground Zero in Manhattan. Trump reportedly decided to forgo the event because he was not offered an opportunity to speak. Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend in his place, and has faced criticism for suggesting he would use the occasion to criticize former President Joe Biden, who will also be present.
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing pressure from some Republicans and relatives of victims to stay away from the ceremony. Critics point to Mamdani's past associations with commentators who have downplayed the attacks or blamed U.S. foreign policy, as well as his own past social media posts that referred to the deaths in New York and subsequent wars. Despite these criticisms, Mamdani has moderated his public statements as mayor, focusing on the bravery of first responders and the heartbreak of families.
Governor Kathy Hochul has publicly supported Mamdani's attendance, stating that division should not overcome the spirit of unity. A recent poll of New York City voters found that 74% believe the mayor should attend. The shifting discourse around 9/11 is also influenced by a growing number of younger voters who were not alive during the attacks, leading to a more abstract understanding of the event.