Americans gathered across the country on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, remembering the nearly 3,000 people killed and confronting the lasting impact of a day that reshaped US politics, foreign policy and national security.
At Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan, relatives of the victims joined Vice-President JD Vance and former presidents George W Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden for the annual commemoration.
The ceremony began at 8.46am, the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Centre’s North Tower. Family members then read the names of the 2,977 people killed in the attacks, along with the six victims of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Centre.
The recitation continued for several hours. Some of those taking part were children born after the attacks who had never met the relatives whose names they read.
Elsie Caldwell carried a photograph of her son Kenny, whose remains were never recovered. She said his last words to her, during a telephone call on the morning of September 11, 2001, were: “Mom, I just want to let you know that I love you.”
Moments of silence were observed throughout the ceremony to mark the attacks on the two towers, the strike on the Pentagon and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back against the hijackers.
For the first time, organisers also observed a seventh moment of silence for the thousands of people who have died from illnesses linked to the toxic dust released after the collapse of the towers.
Families remember a quarter of a century of loss
Howard Lutnick, the US commerce secretary, wiped away a tear as he returned to the memorial. He lost 658 colleagues from the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, including his brother Gary.
Gregory Carafello attended to remember his lifelong friend James Martello, who also worked for the company. Mr Carafello was in the South Tower when it was attacked but escaped.
“Everyone should realise that it was a very bad, catastrophic day for many families,” he said. “These were not warriors. These were people like you and me going to work.”
Caroline Ogonowski, whose father John was the captain of Flight 11, attended a separate ceremony in Boston. She named her son after her father after giving birth earlier this year.
“My father will never know his grandson. And my son will never know his grandfather,” she said.
Ms Ogonowski, who has worked in disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, said future generations should continue to learn about the people who died and the way the country responded in the aftermath.
New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, attended the Ground Zero ceremony despite calls from some Republicans for him to stay away. Mr Mamdani is the city’s first Muslim mayor.
The anniversary has renewed debate about the consequences of the attacks, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the treatment of Muslim Americans and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries.
At the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, where Flight 77 killed 184 people, Donald Trump addressed a rain-soaked ceremony as an American flag was unfurled.
The president recalled the stories of some of those on board, including a woman who was pregnant with her first child, a family travelling to Australia and three sixth-graders on a school trip.
“In those harrowing days after the attacks, we saw the authentic spirit of our nation,” Mr Trump said.
He and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also used their remarks to defend the US war against Iran, arguing that military action was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
“September 11th reminded us of the terrible power of hate,” Mr Trump said. “The 25 years since have shown us the even greater power of the American spirit to endure and prevail, and to win.”
He praised first responders and members of the armed forces, saying the US would ensure that Iran, which he described as the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, never acquired a nuclear weapon.
The continuing toll on first responders
The death toll from September 11 did not end when the towers fell. Firefighters, police officers, rescue workers and residents were exposed to dust and toxic substances at Ground Zero for weeks and months afterwards.
The New York City Fire Department lost 343 members in the attacks. More than 600 additional firefighters, including retired members who joined the rescue effort, have since died from illnesses linked to their work at the site.
Patrick Whalen’s father was a New York firefighter who spent months working among the rubble. He was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare cancer associated with exposure to carcinogens, in 2020 and died the following year.
“The government told him it was safe to breathe, and, obviously, it was not true,” his son said.
At Shanksville in Pennsylvania, another ceremony was held at the site where Flight 93 crashed after passengers attempted to regain control of the plane, which was believed to be heading towards Washington.
For relatives, survivors and those who responded to the attacks, the 25th anniversary remained focused on the lives lost on a clear September morning — and on the generations that have grown up knowing the consequences of that day, even if they were not alive to remember it.
