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New York marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 amid political controversy

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At a glance

  • New York held a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
  • President Donald Trump was absent, attending a separate event at the Pentagon.
  • VP JD Vance and four former presidents attended the Ground Zero ceremony.

Story so far

The world is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people and led to the US-led "global war on terror." In the lead-up to the anniversary, a drone light show was held over New York, using 2,977 drones to represent the victims. The main commemoration ceremony was held at Ground Zero on Friday, September 11, 2026.

Latest development

The main 9/11 anniversary ceremony in New York was marked by the absence of President Donald Trump, who attended a separate event at the Pentagon. The Ground Zero event was attended by Vice President JD Vance and four former US presidents.

Latest updates

New York commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on Friday with a ceremony at Ground Zero marked by political controversy.

President Donald Trump was notably absent from the main event, choosing instead to pay respects at the Pentagon. Vice President JD Vance and four former presidents — George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton — attended the New York ceremony.

The event also saw controversy surrounding the attendance of New York's first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani, who faced a right-wing campaign urging him to stay away.

Ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a drone light show was held over New York to commemorate the victims. Reports indicate that 2,977 drones were used to create an image of the Twin Towers in the sky, with each light representing one of the 2,977 lives lost in the 2001 attacks.

Sources and updates

Dawn News

New York marks 25th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

New York commemorated the 25th anniversary of the devastating attacks of September 11, 2001 on Friday with a ceremony marred by controversy over President Donald Trump’s absence, and right-wing outrage over the attendance of the city’s first Muslim m

Dawn News

After Sept 11

A QUARTER of a century since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks, the world continues to feel the effects of that epochal event. The US response to the attacks on its soil went beyond a counterterrorism operation. It metastasised into a sprawling imperial

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