Twenty-five years after the September 11 terrorist attacks, New York City gathered at Ground Zero on Friday, September 11, 2026, to remember the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives and honor the victims, survivors, families and first responders whose lives were forever changed by the tragedy.
The 25th anniversary ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan brought together victims’ relatives, current political leaders and several former presidents. Among those attending were former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Vice President JD Vance, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
As in previous years, the ceremony focused primarily on remembrance rather than political speeches. Victims’ family members took part in the reading of the names of those killed in the attacks, continuing one of the memorial’s most longstanding traditions.
This year’s observance also carried an additional significance. Organizers introduced a seventh moment of silence to recognize people who have died from illnesses and other health conditions connected to the September 11 attacks and their aftermath.
President Donald Trump marked the anniversary separately at the Pentagon, one of the three locations targeted during the attacks.
Joe Biden Attends Ground Zero Ceremony
Former President Joe Biden attended the September 11 commemoration at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan.
Biden joined victims’ families and other current and former national leaders as New York marked a quarter-century since the attacks. His presence placed him among four former presidents attending the major Ground Zero observance.
The ceremony provided an opportunity for those gathered to remember the people who died on September 11, 2001, as well as those who have since died from illnesses associated with exposure to the events and their aftermath.
Barack And Michelle Obama Join The Remembrance
Former President Barack Obama attended the ceremony alongside former first lady Michelle Obama.
The couple joined other former presidents, political leaders and victims’ families at Ground Zero as the city commemorated the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
Obama was among the former presidents who participated in the New York observance, which maintained its traditional emphasis on the victims and their families.
George W. Bush Returns To The City Where The Attacks Unfolded
Former President George W. Bush also attended the New York ceremony. Bush was president when the September 11 attacks occurred in 2001 and addressed the nation during the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
Twenty-five years later, he returned to Ground Zero for the anniversary observance.
The ceremony once again centered on the victims’ relatives reading the names of their loved ones. The format reflected the longstanding tradition of keeping the focus on those who were killed rather than turning the memorial into a forum for political speeches.
Bill Clinton Attends With Fellow Former Presidents
Former President Bill Clinton was also present at the Ground Zero ceremony.
Clinton attended alongside Biden, Obama and Bush, bringing together four former presidents at the 25th anniversary commemoration.
He was also seen mingling with guests before the formal observance began. Clinton was president when the United States entered the final years before the September 11 attacks, and his presence added another former White House leader to the historic gathering.
JD Vance Represents The Trump Administration In New York
Vice President JD Vance attended the Ground Zero ceremony while President Trump marked the anniversary at the Pentagon.
Vance joined the victims’ families and other officials in New York as the city observed the 25th anniversary.
Other members of the Trump administration attended the separate ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed after passengers and crew members attempted to regain control of the hijacked aircraft.
The three locations — New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville — remain central to the nation’s annual remembrance of September 11.
Zohran Mamdani Attends Amid Controversy
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the Ground Zero ceremony despite criticism from former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who had urged him to stay away from the event.
The disagreement drew attention in the days leading up to the anniversary, but Mamdani ultimately appeared at the ceremony.
In a notable moment before the observance began, Mamdani and Giuliani shook hands.
Mamdani had previously declined to engage directly with Giuliani’s criticism, instead stressing that the anniversary should remain focused on the victims, their families and the first responders affected by the attacks.
The mayor’s administration also made news ahead of the anniversary by opening city records related to the aftermath of 9/11. On September 8, his administration announced the release of the records as part of a settlement ending a yearslong legal battle concerning access to the documents.
Hillary Clinton Joins The New York Observance
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also attended the commemoration.
Clinton was serving as a U.S. senator representing New York when the September 11 attacks took place. Her appearance at the 25th anniversary ceremony brought her together with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, as well as the other former presidents and Vice President Vance.
Her connection to New York dates back to her time in the Senate, when she represented the state during the years following the attacks and the subsequent recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Rudy Giuliani Returns To Ground Zero
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was leading the city on September 11, 2001, attended the ceremony as well.
Giuliani became a prominent figure during the immediate response to the attacks and has remained closely associated with New York’s remembrance of September 11.
His attendance this year came after he publicly criticized Mamdani and called on the current mayor not to attend the ceremony.
Despite their disagreement, Giuliani and Mamdani shook hands before the observance began.
In the days before the anniversary, Giuliani criticized Mamdani during an appearance on Newsmax. Mamdani chose not to respond directly to those comments, instead emphasizing the importance of keeping the commemoration centered on those who lost their lives and the first responders who were affected by the attacks.
Kathy Hochul Expected At Ground Zero
New York Governor Kathy Hochul was expected to attend the Ground Zero ceremony, according to advance reporting.
Hochul also defended Mamdani’s decision to participate in the commemoration after Giuliani called for him to stay away.
“He absolutely should be there, he’s the mayor of New York City,” Hochul said ahead of the anniversary.
Her comments reflected the view that the city’s sitting mayor should take part in an official remembrance marking a major event in New York City’s history.
A Day Of Remembrance Across Three Locations
The 25th anniversary of September 11 was marked at the three locations directly connected to the attacks: Ground Zero in New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and the Shanksville crash site in Pennsylvania.
At Ground Zero, the ceremony brought together generations of political leaders, victims’ families and New York officials. The reading of the victims’ names remained at the heart of the observance, while the addition of a seventh moment of silence acknowledged those who have died in the years since the attacks from health conditions linked to the disaster and its aftermath.
A quarter-century after September 11, the anniversary continues to serve as a day of remembrance for those killed in the attacks and for the many people whose lives were affected in the years that followed.
