WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to observe the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by attending a commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday. The event honors the lives lost when al-Qaida militants hijacked planes, killing nearly 3,000 people across three locations and fundamentally altering American foreign policy and national security protocols.
Pentagon Observance and National Schedule
This marks the second consecutive year that President Trump has marked the day at the Pentagon. He previously attended the ground zero ceremony in New York City during last year's observances. While the president remains focused on the military site, Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to attend the New York observance alongside former presidents.
Other administration officials will travel to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for separate commemorations. The scheduling of these events follows a pattern established in previous years, ensuring that key government figures are present at multiple significant sites related to the attacks, as we reported in Fact Check: Trump’s Claims About Being Carried by Firefighters on 9/11.
Patriot Day Proclamation and Steel Beam Tour
On Wednesday, Trump issued an official proclamation designating Friday as "Patriot Day 2026." The document recounts the chronology of the 2001 events, describing how the peace of the nation was shattered. It further states that his administration remains unwavering in its commitment to defend the country with what it describes as the strongest and most lethal military force ever known, more context in Fact Check: Trump’s Claims About Being Carried by Firefighters on 9/11.
Earlier on Tuesday, at an event held at the Ellipse just outside the White House, Trump vowed "never forget" the victims. The gathering was spearheaded by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and featured a massive 21-foot steel beam weighing nearly 17,000 pounds recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center, confirmed by AP News.
Community Remembrance Efforts
The steel beam has traveled across the country for months as part of the "Steel Across America" tour. It is scheduled to arrive in New York on Friday for a procession retracing the steps of fallen New York City firefighter Stephen Siller. During last year's Pentagon commemoration, President Trump delivered remarks that included snippets of conversations from passengers aboard the hijacked airplanes.
