Former presidents attend 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero

newsSep 11, 2026726,005

Former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and George W. Bush attended the 25th anniversary remembrance at the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero in New York, joining families, survivors and first responders for readings of victims’ names and a moment of silence. Terry Strada, national chairperson of 9/11 Families United, went off-script during her remarks, accusing Saudi Arabia of supporting al-Qaeda and criticizing U.S. administrations for shielding the kingdom from accountability. Several victims’ family members used the anniversary to urge then-President Donald Trump to hold Saudi Arabia accountable. Separately, former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card reflected on Sept. 11, 2001, telling TODAY that he had whispered to President George W. Bush that a second plane had hit the World Trade Center and saying, “We have to keep the promise that we made when we said we would never forget.” The ceremonies in New York were one part of nationwide observances marking the attacks’ 25th anniversary, which also included events at the Pentagon and near the Flight 93 crash site.

Peter Morley ♿️

@petermorley.bsky.social

President Barack Obama & Michelle Obama during the 9/11 ceremony at 8:46 AM ET moment of silence when the first plane hit the World Trade Center in 2001. So much compassion. I really miss this for our country.🙏

177629d ago

Laura7657413

Visible pain and sorrow. They were the absolute best!

Kev12

I'm a Limey but I reckon that Barack Obama was the best president the US has had in recent memory

Walking Dude10

Thank them both for being there. They show there are government representatives that care.

invincibleruffian.bsky.social7

At this point I even miss Bush.

CiaoZuck6

And is that AOC between them?🤔🥰

Carla Rae5

Me too. So much 😢

Quoting this

Ground Water Science 🇺🇦 🇬🇱 🇵🇸 🇹🇿 🇺🇸2

The contrast to what we see lately is stark, right? Bless all our memories (was in the air at 08:48 on approach to DTW), the calm helpers, those who sacrificed ... Bury that unjust xenophobia and need for revenge

MeidasTouch

@meidastouch.com

Trump fell asleep at the Pentagon's 9/11 ceremony. Then he woke up and used the anniversary to sell you a war Iran had nothing to do with. Meanwhile the Houthis just seized the entire Yemeni Red Sea coast as the war spirals. Here's your update:

135028d ago

Chris⚖️Justice45

Unfit Trump is unable to fully comprehend his own failures

Abdohassan30

Morgan Freeman on Donald Trump: "We have someone sitting in the White House leading us toward the abyss. I don't understand how a convicted criminal becomes president. How is that possible? It's unbelievable to me."

MGB💙8

If it's not about him or a statue of him, he doesn't care

Tyrone Glover8

WHY AM I HERE? On 9/11, I was a United Airlines flight attendant. Philadelphia to California became Wichita, Kansas. 25 years later, I’m grateful to be here and committed to helping others. Where were you? #NeverForget #September11 #UNIITEFORGOOD #WeGotUs

Christian Petersen7

How long are the corporate media going to ignore this? The double-standard between Biden and Trump is mind-blowing, appalling, and deeply insulting. The signs that there is something seriously wrong with him, both mentally and physically, are a million times more apparent than with Biden. Madness!

Diane Sanders5

And then he went golfing

Quoting this

𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐆 🇨🇦 🇺🇦🌻🦋5

But of course he did.

clnzjay 🌱 🐶 🇨🇦3

Trump always falls asleep when it's not about him. Joe Biden who was wide awake and respectful at the New York ceremony along with other presidents. Trump skipped it because he couldn't make a speech about himself. And, the 🤡-in-chief tried to link his war of choice in Iran to 9/11. He's insane.

Carole Paré Payne3

So much for respect for the fallen heros. What a despicable creature.

Lisa Bahr2

Absolutely disgraceful speech by F47 @ the 9/11 ceremony. Completely insensitive to bring up the Iran war at a memorial event for those who lost their lives on 9/11. This wasn't a friggin' rally! & Hegseth, talking about the Iran war, too? They think bloodlust is strength. It isn't, it's a weakness.

aiformal sagebiel this summer ll feel fresher every year2

Rocket BM drones different directions on pipeline . @charles-ex.bsky.social @ginger146.bsky.social

Hoodlum 🇺🇸

@nothoodlum.bsky.social

Terry Strada spoke at the 25th anniversary ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in NYC. While reading victims’ names, including her husband’s, she went off-script, accusing Saudi Arabia of supporting al-Qaeda and criticizing US administrations for shielding the kingdom from accountability.

103028d ago

Brenny83

Quite a few of these family members went off script this way and there wasn’t a damn thing anyone would do to stop them. Very effective

Earl44

Saudi Arabia should have been held accountable. Our government should not have shielded Saudi Arabia. Instead, W started a war of diversion and lied to us. WMD in Iraq was the claim. Why? Oil profits, of course. No accountability for Saudi Arabia.

*it* is happening here30

Jared got $2 billion of blood money though

chichi6030

She had every damn right to

🖇️ Jane16

Wow. And about damn time we all demand the truth from the powers still covering up the facts

stosh80.bsky.social14

Ummm she does realize Trump is Bffs with the king so that shit ain't happening

Quoting this

Wyldefire3

This 9/12 widow is braver than every single member of Congress.

Russ

@pappyparki.bsky.social

Joe Biden stands for hours & is fully engaged in the Ground Zero Memorial today, after completing chemotherapy for Stage 4 prostate cancer. Conversely, Trump repeatedly falls asleep during the Pentagon Memorial Service. Tell us who is an alpha male & fit to serve www.irishstar.com/news/politic...

33128d ago

RichieNYC6

And that face droop wow

Christian Petersen5

Mike Pantuso5

Hey tapper any comments you gutless fuck

TheFullerReport4

The clown doesn't even wear a muted color suit or tie.

Boocow164

Trump is the poster boy for what Racism will get you.

🦂Paula Murphy Pounds🦂 🌛🌚🌜🧙🏼‍♀️🪄 ☮️&💚4

Karma calling Biden 'sleepy Joe' now who's sleepy

Quoting this

The Rude Pundit153

Donald Trump's declining health should be a constant news story. Whether or not a president can do the job isn't just about elections. It's about the security of the nation.

᯽Ჽƭⲉꭾ𝚑𝚊𝑛𝔦ɛ᯽🤸13

@jaketapper.bsky.social Any comment, or nah?

Bookhisattva12

How unbelievably sad is MAGA that they worship this wastrel.

Grandpa9

This is who maga swoon over? What a bunch of losers.

NancyGailArmstrongSloop ❌👑6

Hey, Dozy Don - who's the loser? You are! (And your hair looks really bad. Really.)

Modeka6

@cbsnews.com OBVIOUSLY can't see the difference. May if Bari's wife wasn't in the Epstein Files things would be different ! bsky.app/profile/papp...

Sane Lunatic5

Yet another reason why I don't believe in karma anymore. Regardless of anything that may've happened in a past life, given what they've done in THIS lifetime, Biden should be healthy and thriving and Trump should have Stage 4 cancer.

Pa.gal3

Report on this 👇 New York Times. @cnn.com @msnowreports.bsky.social @reuters.com @apnews.com @axios.com @washingtonpost.com

Sheripres3

Maybe Numb Nuts can sleep like Rip Van Winkle.

Anonymous

@youranoncentral.bsky.social

At a 9/11 anniversary memorial ceremony at Ground Zero, Terry Strada, national chairperson of 9/11 Families United, calls out the US government for covering up Saudi Arabia's role in the 2001 WTC attack. Asks Trump and Vance for help. The speech caught Vance off guard.

15628d ago

New Moon Musings10

You can watch Vance's mouth go dry in real time.

The Best Words4

Exactly right. Trump and Kushner have white-washed the Saudis, post 9/11, and post Jamal Kashoggi’s murder. $2 billion buys a lot of gravitas and nuclear technology. Amirite?

The Healing Cow3

It was one party in particular; assuredly, those to blame are in every part of America. But one political party in particular throughout my life...

Wyatt Burp2

Mad that all these conspiracy theorists like Kash and JD revelled in it and now actively protect pedophiles and terrorists everyday.

BeaglesResist❌👑Release the trump-epstein files2

Dubya was big pals with the Saudis.

Tom Thumb2

What is the major hard-on Tapper has with Biden in particular? Dubya hustled those Arabs out of America. Trump pals around with bin Salman.

Quoting this

Just Jill 💖3

Wow 😮! Someone doesn’t look too happy about that speech. Way to go Terry 👏🏼 Saying it like it is - the only way to go. It’s been 25 years!!! Know your friends - know your foes. #SheShed #Preach

NPR

@npr.org

Around the U.S., ceremonies commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11th terror attacks in New York and at the Pentagon. n.pr/4cHA2N0

11528d ago

@npr.org Make sure you share this with Don; apparently the President decided to take a nap during the NY commemoration event today.

Realbutterplease1

I remember exactly when & where I was, what I did that day, the emotions, etc. Many of us defiantly went to work, refusing to be cowed. Listening to a live radio reporter & policeman being crushed by a falling body. The distraught camera man picked up the mic & kept talking. Unforgettable. Horrific.

Jacob Redman

@jacob-redman.bsky.social

Former President Biden, his wife Jill, and former President Bush today at Ground Zero on the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

11528d ago

Quoting this

M.Sfinbar3

As a human, how George W Bush must processes a memorial service like today. It must be extraordinarily difficult and will only get worse as he gets older I’d imagine.

Nathaniel Dorsey3

George Bush is more popular now than he was in 2001.

Library of Congress

@librarycongress.bsky.social

To mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the Library has launched an online collection of nearly 500 first-hand accounts that document what responders witnessed, why they responded, what they endured, and how the experience affected their health, families and lives in the years that followed. 🧵

6128d ago

Kathleen Bachynski

@bachynski.bsky.social

“We gave it all. When we got to ground zero we felt so much fear. Oh the fear we felt! No one ever asked to check our immigration status. Oh no, they treated us like we were real important back then. It was: 'Go in Lucelly. Go Lucelly. Get in there.'"

5328d ago

Matt Leeds

@mleeds2048.bsky.social

Never Forget! 25th Anniversary Of September 11th 2001! 🫡🇺🇸🗽 go.bsky.app/36MRgvb

5728d ago

Deborah Lynn6

Thank you! @mleeds2048.bsky.social #VoteBlue #Blues Never Forget

Hendrik Klaassens #FBPE #BanX #NoAfD #FBR4

Thank you so much for adding me to this Starter Pack, Matt! The whole world looks back on it with horror. However, Donald Trump fell asleep today during the remembrance ceremony in the Pentagon.

Kinley 🦋 Brenda3

TY @mleeds2048.bsky.social Great pack! Followed all and Reposted!🦋💙🦋

Jürgen R 💙🇺🇦 🐝2

Thank you for adding me, Matt! It’s highly appreciated 👊✊🫶

✨🦋𝓢𝓗𝓔𝓘𝓛𝓐 🦋✨1

Much appreciated Matt! 💙 #NeverForget911 #25thAnniversary

ElleO 🇺🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽1

Humbled to be included. Thank you, Matt 🎗️

Bloomberg News

@bloomberg.com

Some 9/11 victims’ families used the 25th anniversary ceremony to urge Trump to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its alleged complicity in the attacks.

6828d ago

LouFromBoston5

Trump … hold Saudi Arabia accountable? Of all people on the planet, Trump is the last person to call on for this. He’s Saudi friendly and wants to jointly build nuclear infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

dziaktw.bsky.social2

15 MURDERERS were from Saudi Arabia and @POTUS continues to kiss the ARSE of #MBS

Tom Tell2

Don't hold your breath. 🤨

NBC News

@nbcnews.com

People across the country, including former Presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and George W. Bush, pause for a moment of silence to honor the first responders and people killed in the 9/11 attacks.

6228d ago

Jeff1

So many lives from all backgrounds. We must always remember the victims and how affecting 9/11 was and still is.

Stars and Stripes

@starsandstripes.bsky.social

Thousands of people gathered in New York City to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. No political figures spoke during the ceremony at ground zero, in keeping with protocol for the annual remembrance.

5628d ago

Detroit Metro Times

@metrotimes.com

Never forget. Mike Rogers has invoked 9/11 to attack Abdul El-Sayed. But when Congress voted to provide health care for first responders sickened by Ground Zero, Rogers voted against it. Twice. www.metrotimes.com/news/before-...

4628d ago

PBS News

@pbsnews.org

Families, survivors, first responders and dignitaries marked the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with somber and poignant ceremonies. https://to.pbs.org/4h4oWDd

5728d ago

3 sources

abcnews.comWATCH: Former presidents attend NYC ceremony for 9/11 anniversary fllics.comAndy Card Reflects on Delivering 9/11 News to President Bush wvia.orgVeteran D.C. reporter, now retired to native Columbia County, was with Bush in Sarasota on 9/11

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Former presidents attend 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero

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