Kamala Harris and Donald Trump’s 9/11 Plans: What We Know

As the United States prepares to mark the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Vice President Kamala Harris’s participation and attendance in ceremonies have been announced; former President Donald Trump’s plans, however, are unclear.
The vice president, alongside President Joe Biden, is set to attend memorial ceremonies at all three crash sites: New York City; Shanksville, Pennsylvania; and Arlington, Virginia. Harris is set to attend the Ground Zero ceremony in New York City reports The New York Times, continuing a tradition of vice-presidential participation in 9/11 memorials.
This appearance comes at a crucial moment in the election cycle, occurring just after day before her highly anticipated debate with Trump in Philadelphia on September 10. Harris’ presence at the memorial site mirrors her attendance last year, where she joined New York Governor Kathy Hochul and a diverse group of political figures in a powerful display of national unity that transcended party lines.
President Biden, who marked last year’s anniversary at a military base in Alaska while returning from a diplomatic trip in Asia, is expected to join Harris at Ground Zero.
In contrast, former President Trump’s plans for the anniversary remain shrouded in uncertainty, according to The Times. Sources close to the Trump camp indicate that he is considering a visit to Ground Zero, but no official announcement has been made. Trump’s potential appearance at the site carries significant weight, given his status as a native New Yorker and his complex history with 9/11 commemorations.
Newsweek contacted the Harris and Trump campaigns via email on Monday for comment.
Trump’s relationship with 9/11 remembrances has been marked by controversy and inconsistency. In 2021, on the 20th anniversary of the attacks, he notably abstained from visiting Ground Zero. Instead, he opted to visit New York fire and police stations before returning to Florida to provide commentary for a boxing match. This decision drew criticism from those who felt it diminished the gravity of the occasion.
The former president’s absence from official ceremonies in recent years stands in stark contrast to his participation in the 2016 Ground Zero memorial, which he attended as a presidential candidate. That same year, his rival, Hillary Clinton, also present at the ceremony, made headlines when she fell ill and was later treated for pneumonia.
Trump’s provocative statements about his experiences on September 11, 2001, have often sparked debate and skepticism. His claims about what he witnessed on that day have been scrutinized and questioned by fact-checkers and eyewitnesses alike, adding a layer of controversy to his involvement in 9/11 remembrances.
The juxtaposition of Harris’s and Trump’s approaches to this year’s anniversary is particularly striking given the timing. The memorial events will take place mere hours after their first face-to-face presidential debate, a high-stakes encounter that is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested election.
With the 2024 election looming, both camps are acutely aware of the symbolic weight carried by their actions on this anniversary. How they choose to honor the memory of 9/11 may well influence voters’ perceptions of their leadership qualities and their ability to unite a nation still grappling with the long-term effects of that tragic day.
As September 11 approaches, all eyes will be on New York City, Shanksville, and Arlington, watching how these political figures pay their respects and what messages they convey to a nation that continues to heal, remember, and look to the future.
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