New York, New York - President Donald Trump will not be attending the 25th anniversary memorial service for the 9/11 attacks in New York City after his request to deliver a speech was reportedly denied.
According to The New York Times, the president's team recently visited Ground Zero and signaled to officials in New York and Washington that Trump intended to give a speech.
But officials were soon informed by The National September 11 Memorial and Museum, which oversees the site, that politicians have been barred from speaking at the memorial since 2012 in an effort to keep it nonpartisan and focused on the solemnity of the day.
In response, Trump has decided to instead attend an event at the Pentagon in Washington DC, which was also attacked on 9/11, where he will be allowed to give a speech.
He is scheduled to travel to Washington after attending a midterm political convention in Texas on September 9 and 10.
Vice President JD Vance, however, is expected to attend the New York service.
The decision to attend the DC event was also influenced by Trump's plans to depart the next day for his golf course in Doonbeg, Ireland, where he will participate in the Irish Open tournament.
The Times notes that flying out of JFK Airport in New York City, or Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, would "snarl air and motor traffic to a much greater extent" than departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
In 2024, Trump memorably attended a ceremony at Ground Zero alongside a number of his political enemies, including former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.