President Donald Trump marked the anniversary separately at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., choosing not to attend the ceremony in New York. His decision stood out given his previous appearances at the 9/11 Memorial and the presence of several other prominent political figures.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani also attended Friday's ceremony despite a public request from former Mayor Rudy Giuliani that he stay away. Giuliani, who was serving as mayor when the attacks took place, had urged Mamdani not to participate, but the current mayor attended the commemoration.
The gathering provided a rare moment for political figures from different eras and parties to stand together in remembrance. Vance and Mamdani were among those present as the city reflected on the attacks and their lasting impact on victims, families and first responders.
The ceremony also comes nearly two years after Trump appeared at the 9/11 Memorial alongside then-President Joe Biden and then-Vice President Kamala Harris in September 2024.
That appearance was particularly notable because Trump and Harris had faced each other in a presidential debate only hours earlier. Despite their political differences, the two briefly put the campaign aside and shook hands during the memorial ceremony as they joined others in honoring those who died.
This year's gathering follows another unusual meeting involving former presidents earlier in the summer. In June, Barack Obama welcomed Clinton, Bush and Biden to Chicago for the opening of the Obama Presidential Center.
The event brought together former presidents from both major political parties and their families. Trump was not invited to the opening and did not attend.
The 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero once again created a rare setting for current and former national leaders to come together. The gathering focused on remembering the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, while honoring the first responders and families whose lives were permanently changed by the attacks.
A quarter of a century later, the anniversary continues to serve as a moment of remembrance across political lines, bringing together leaders and members of the public to reflect on one of the darkest days in modern American history.
