President Trump is skipping the 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero, reportedly because he wanted to give a speech, which is not allowed at the event.
Instead, Trump is expected to mark the occasion at the Pentagon, where he can speak freely.
>>> Brittany Cartwright's Bruised Knee and Broken iPad Photos Linked to Jax Taylor Incident
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has barred politicians from speaking at the Ground Zero ceremony since 2012 to keep it nonpartisan.
Trump had planned to attend but was turned down when he requested to speak, according to The New York Times and CNN.
>>> Judge Dismisses Trespassing Case Against Sunny Hostin's Son
Vice President to Represent White House at Ground Zero
With Trump going to the Pentagon, Vice President JD Vance is expected to represent the White House at the Manhattan ceremony.
The move is notable because Trump is a native New Yorker and has attended the ceremony before, including in 2024.
The Ground Zero event has intentionally remained nonpartisan, with politicians attending but leaving speeches to victims' families as names are read aloud.
>>> Jax Taylor Ordered to Stay Away from Brittany Cartwright After Alleged Threat
The White House says Trump will use his Pentagon remarks to remember those killed, honor their families, and pay tribute to first responders.
There is also a logistical factor: Trump is scheduled to leave the next day for Ireland, and flying out of NYC could create traffic issues.
>>> Vivo T5 5G India launch set for September 2, Dimensity 7500 Turbo confirmed
Rudy Giuliani, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Laura Bush, and Barack Obama are among those expected at the Manhattan ceremony.
