Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump stood together at Ground Zero in New York City today, participating in a solemn ceremony to honor the lives lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The event took place just hours after the two had faced off in a highly anticipated debate the previous night.
Arriving at the memorial, Harris and Trump shook hands and exchanged brief words before the ceremony commenced. This marked a rare public interaction between the two political figures, who had never met in person until their debate in Philadelphia.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were President Joe Biden, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH). In a notable moment before the ceremony began, Biden and Trump briefly exchanged words, their first face-to-face encounter since a debate on June 27. The two had only spoken indirectly since then, including after an assassination attempt on Trump in July.
The ceremony at Ground Zero featured the traditional reading of the names of the 2,977 victims who perished in the 2001 attacks, along with moments of silence at 8:46 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. to mark the times when the hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers. The event is a powerful annual reminder of the tragedy that unfolded on September 11, 2001, when terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
President Biden, Vice President Harris, former President Trump, Sen. JD Vance and Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg at 9/11 Ceremony in New York. pic.twitter.com/nK19YKABjB
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 11, 2024
Throughout the ceremony, Bloomberg was seen physically separating Biden and Harris from Trump and Vance, underscoring the political divisions even in such a somber setting.
In a statement issued Wednesday morning, according to The Washington Examiner, Harris emphasized the importance of remembering the victims of 9/11 and the resilience of the American people. “On September 11, 2001, terrorists sought to attack and destroy our way of life — our democracy, our freedoms, and everything we hold dear as Americans. In that endeavor, they failed,” she said. Harris continued by expressing hope for unity, stating, “We will never forget. Together, we made clear we will not bend or break in the face of terrorism.”
Trump, speaking on Fox News’s Fox & Friends earlier in the day, reflected on the anniversary, calling it a “very, very sad, horrible day” and urging Americans to remember the gravity of the attacks.
As the nation marks 23 years since one of its darkest days, the presence of leaders past and present at Ground Zero serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring impact of the 9/11 attacks on American life and the ongoing need for unity in the face of adversity.
Both Biden and Harris bailed on the ceremony early, and they were lucky they did. A 9/11 widow has publicly criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for their reported efforts to negotiate a plea deal with the alleged 9/11 hijackers. She also condemned President Biden for his recent use of the phrase “do 9/11” in a speech, calling it deeply insensitive given the gravity of the tragedy.
Wow.
A 9/11 widow just called out Kamala and Biden for attempting to give a plea deal to the hijackers and Biden using the term “do 9/11” yesterday.
It appears Kamala and Biden left Ground Zero early and therefore weren’t there for itpic.twitter.com/uAjluAEoRQ
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 11, 2024
On Tuesday, the president claimed he was going to watch the debate and then “do 9/11” when asked about his schedule.
Biden sums up his next 24 hours, speaking to the pool: “I’m going up to my granddaughter’s birthday in New York, then we’re going to watch the debate and tomorrow I’m doing 9/11.”
— Annie Linskey (@AnnieLinskey) September 10, 2024
