Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris set aside politics on Wednesday to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City, just one day after their heated presidential debate.
The remembrance ceremony took place at Ground Zero, honouring the nearly 3,000 victims of the deadliest terrorist attack in U.S. history.
The Sept. 11 attacks involved the hijacking of four commercial planes by terrorists. Two planes were flown into the World Trade Centre towers in New York City, one struck the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and another crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers heroically fought back against the hijackers. The coordinated attacks claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people, including 400 first responders.
President Joe Biden, Vice President Harris, former President Trump, and Ohio Senator JD Vance stood together during the sombre ceremony at Ground Zero. Trump and Harris were spotted shaking hands before the event, signalling a momentary pause in their political rivalry to honour the victims.
Following the ceremony, Trump is scheduled to visit New York Fire Department Engine 4, Tower Ladder 15, to pay tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives in the aftermath of the attacks.
In total, 343 New York City firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, and 37 Port Authority workers were killed in the line of duty on September 11, 2001.
The day of remembrance will also include trips to Shanksville and Arlington, Virginia. President Biden, Harris, and Trump will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, where 40 passengers and crew members on Flight 93 are believed to have prevented a more significant attack by overpowering the hijackers.
Later, Biden and Harris are expected to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, where another hijacked plane crashed 23 years ago.
The ceremonies serve as a reminder of the unity and resilience that emerged from the tragic events of 9/11 as the nation continues to honour the victims and the heroes of that fateful day.
