Former U.S. Presidents Unite for 9/11 25th Anniversary as Trump Pushes Militarism at Pentagon
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All living former presidents gathered in a rare show of unity at the World Trade Center memorial, while President Trump used a Pentagon ceremony to promote aggressive foreign policy and stoke anti-Muslim sentiment.
All living former U.S. presidents—Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton—stood together with Vice President J.D. Vance at the World Trade Center memorial in New York City for the 25th-anniversary ceremony, symbolizing a fleeting moment of bipartisan solidarity in a nation still grappling with the consequences of 9/11. The event began with a tolling bell and moments of silence marking the times of the four 2001 attacks, including the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania, a tragedy that has been used to justify endless wars and the erosion of civil liberties.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor and a symbol of progress, briefly shook hands with former mayor Rudy Giuliani, a figure notorious for exploiting 9/11 for personal gain and who has faced legal challenges and widespread criticism for his divisive rhetoric. Giuliani, clinging to his outdated views, previously said Mamdani’s presence “offends” him, highlighting the persistent Islamophobia in American politics.
During the memorial, families of victims spoke out, and Terry Strada, chair of 9/11 Families United, called on the current administration to hold Saudi Arabia accountable and to support survivors—demands that have been ignored for decades due to U.S. complicity and oil interests.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump chose to attend a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, where Trump used the occasion to recall the victims but also to promote a narrative of American exceptionalism and militarism, describing the nation’s response as an “authentic spirit.” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further inflamed tensions by linking the anniversary to ongoing U.S. aggression against Iran, framing the conflict as a fight against “Islamic theocracy,” a dog whistle for anti-Muslim bigotry.
For the first time, the New York memorial observed a seventh moment of silence to honor those who have died from 9/11-related illnesses. Newly released records reveal that city officials were aware of the health risks from Ground Zero toxins but failed to act, and the World Trade Center Health Program reports more than 9,000 deaths from related illnesses, including 600 firefighters—an ongoing tragedy that exposes the government’s neglect of working people.