Trump to skip 9/11 ceremony in NYC because he wasn't allowed to speak at the event
Trump has denied reports of his decision being linked to a ban on speeches at the event
Published September 02, 2026
United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump will become the only living president to skip the 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero in New York City (NYC) as all four former living presidents: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have decided to attend the event.
According to The Independent, the 47th POTUS had previously planned to join former presidents; however, the 80-year-old Republican leader changed plans after learning that he will not be allowed to make a speech.
The event organisers informed the team about their decision stating that it is a step to ensure a non-partisan stance.
Vice President JD Vance will represent the White House at the event while President Trump will attend the ceremony in the Pentagon which also came under attack on September 11, 2001.
Trump, however, has denied reports that his decision was linked to the ban on political speeches at the Ground Zero ceremony, calling the reports “fake news” and saying that he would be happy not to speak on a day meant to remember the victims.
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has prohibited politicians from making speeches at the Ground Zero ceremony since 2012, with the event instead focused on remembering those who lost their lives and their families.
The 2026 ceremony will mark 25 years since the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people across New York, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania.
The unusual split means Trump will be the only living U.S. president absent from the Ground Zero ceremony, despite being a New Yorker who has frequently spoken about his experiences on September 11, 2001.
