9/11 anniversary 2024/ Kamala Harris Donald Trump 9/11 memorials/ U.S. commemorates September 11 attacks/ presidential election 9/11 ceremonies/ Ground Zero 9/11 observances/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ As the U.S. commemorates 9/11, this year’s observance is intertwined with presidential campaign politics. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are set to attend memorials in New York and Pennsylvania, just hours after their debate. Joe Biden will also participate in the day’s ceremonies, marking the final 9/11 of his term. However, the focus at memorials remains on honoring victims, with political figures taking a backseat to family tributes.
U.S. Commemorates 9/11 Victims, But Politics Looms: Quick Looks
- Presidential Politics: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are expected to attend 9/11 memorials just after their debate.
- Biden’s Participation: President Joe Biden will attend ceremonies marking the last 9/11 of his term.
- Focus on Victims: Families will continue the tradition of reading victims’ names, with politicians observing quietly.
- Historical Precedent: In 2008, John McCain and Barack Obama visibly set aside politics on 9/11, attending memorials together.
- Political Overlap: The day may see Harris and Trump in the same space, though it’s unclear if they will interact.
U.S. Honors 9/11 Victims Amid Presidential Campaign Politics
Deep Look:
The U.S. observed the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 with ceremonies paying tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. This year’s remembrance is occurring under the cloud of the 2024 presidential election, with the day falling just hours after the first debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Memorials Amid Politics
Both Harris and Trump are expected to attend separate 9/11 ceremonies, with Harris joining President Joe Biden at the World Trade Center Memorial in New York, while Trump is scheduled to attend the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania. While presidential campaigns and debates often introduce political tension to 9/11 anniversaries, the memorials have long prioritized honoring the victims over political posturing.
In the past, political rivals have set aside their differences to come together on this solemn day. During the 2008 campaign, then-presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama visited Ground Zero together, laying flowers at the memorial site and presenting a rare moment of unity during a contentious election.
Whether or not Harris and Trump will cross paths at these ceremonies remains unclear, but the possibility looms large. Such an encounter would be extraordinary given that they just faced off in a heated debate, making the day’s significance all the more pronounced.
Focus on the Victims
The tradition of having the victims’ families read the names of their loved ones remains central to 9/11 commemorations. Despite the presence of high-profile political figures, the microphone is reserved for the families of those who lost their lives. This year, many of the individuals delivering the names are children and young adults who were born after their family members were killed, adding to the day’s emotional weight.
As always, families reflect on the lives lost and how their loved ones continue to be missed. For example, Melissa Tarasiewicz, who lost her father, firefighter Allan Tarasiewicz, remarked, “You’re around the people that are feeling the grief, feeling proud or sad — what it’s all about that day, and what these loved ones meant to you. It’s not political.”
Biden’s Last 9/11 as President
For President Joe Biden, this will be the final 9/11 anniversary of his term and likely the last of his 50-year political career. Accompanied by Harris, Biden will take part in ceremonies at the World Trade Center Memorial and at the Pentagon, where another plane crashed after being hijacked by al-Qaida terrorists.
The president has long held close ties to 9/11 memorials, and his presence this year reflects the lasting impact of the tragedy on U.S. policy and its leaders.
The Legacy of 9/11
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, killed nearly 3,000 people and marked a turning point in U.S. history. The day fundamentally changed American foreign policy, leading to the Global War on Terrorism, which included wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. These conflicts, especially the war in Afghanistan, led to the deaths of thousands of American troops and hundreds of thousands of Afghan and Iraqi civilians.
As the war on terror evolved, it sparked numerous policy debates, many of which continue today. These wars not only shaped America’s military strategy but also impacted the way future generations perceive security, immigration, and national identity.
Politicians’ Role in 9/11 Remembrance
For years, politicians have been kept at a respectful distance during the Ground Zero ceremonies, serving primarily as observers. In 2012, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum shifted the focus away from political readings of the Declaration of Independence and other texts, instead placing the microphone squarely in the hands of victims’ families. This decision, spearheaded by Michael Bloomberg, then the museum’s chairman and New York City mayor, continues to this day.
Though public figures like Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump attended the memorials in the past, the emphasis remains on those who lost loved ones in the attacks. Hillary Clinton and Trump were both present at the 2016 ceremony, where Clinton famously left early due to illness, fueling public speculation about her health.
Reflections and Messages
Occasionally, family members of victims take the opportunity to deliver personal or political messages during the name readings. Some have used the platform to call for national unity, security, or express dissatisfaction with how 9/11 has been used in political discourse. However, the majority of readers stick to personal tributes that focus on the memories of their loved ones.
As the day of remembrance continues to evolve, the overarching message remains clear: the victims of 9/11 and their legacies will forever be at the forefront of these solemn occasions.
