WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks with a solemn ceremony at the Pentagon, honoring the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives and the first responders who risked everything to save others.
The anniversary was observed across the United States, with ceremonies taking place at the three locations targeted during the attacks New York City, the Pentagon in Virginia and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
At the Pentagon, Trump paid tribute to the victims and the emergency workers who responded to the attacks. The ceremony included the reading of the names of the 184 people killed at the Pentagon and moments of remembrance.
Trump said the United States must never forget what happened on September 11 and praised the courage shown by firefighters, police officers, emergency workers, military personnel and ordinary Americans.
He also highlighted the sacrifices made by American service members during the years that followed the attacks.
The President said the lessons of September 11 remain important for America’s national security. He argued that the United States must remain strong and prepared to confront threats before they reach American soil.
Trump also connected the memory of 9/11 with the current security situation involving Iran. In his remarks, he argued that the United States continues to face serious threats and said the country must maintain strength and vigilance.
The President’s message came as the United States remains involved in a major confrontation with Iran. His remarks therefore gave the anniversary ceremony a broader national-security message, linking the sacrifices of the past with America’s current military and security challenges.
Trump has repeatedly used the phrase “Never Forget” while commemorating the 9/11 anniversary. Earlier this week, he participated in a White House event honoring first responders and Gold Star families, where he also recognized Welles Crowther, known as the “Man in the Red Bandana,” with a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The White House has described the 25th anniversary as an opportunity to remember the victims, honor the heroes and pass the memory of September 11 to a new generation.
The attacks killed 2,977 people. Hijacked aircraft struck the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers aboard Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers.
Twenty-five years later, the anniversary remains one of the most significant days in modern American history.
Across the country, families, survivors, firefighters, police officers and communities gathered to remember those who died. At Ground Zero in New York, victims’ names were read during the annual ceremony, while additional moments of silence recognized people who later died from illnesses linked to exposure to toxic debris following the attacks.
The anniversary also reflects on the enormous changes that followed 9/11. The attacks reshaped American foreign policy, national security and military strategy and led to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
For Trump, however, the central message of the 25th anniversary was remembrance, strength and national resolve.
The President said America’s enemies must understand that the country will defend itself, while the memory of those who died must continue to guide future generations.
As the United States marks a quarter century since the attacks, the message from the Pentagon remains clear: America remembers the victims, honors the heroes and renews its commitment to protecting the nation.
America will never forget September 11, 2001.
