US marks 9/11’s 25th anniversary with diverse tributes from Pentagon to New York

On the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, U.S. officials held memorials nationwide to honor 2,977 victims and the responders. President Trump stayed in Washington, D.C., and spoke at the Pentagon rather than attending the New York World Trade Center ceremony, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged vigilance in remarks tied to ongoing threats. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the memorial alongside Rudy Giuliani amid controversy over his participation, with Mamdani releasing a tribute video. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed posted his remembrance on X and faced campaign criticism. The piece also notes debates about air-quality documentation after 9/11 and recounts the four hijackings that day, which ended with attacks on the WTC, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field.