At a recent memorial in New York City, honoring the 9/11 victims, some seemingly unlikely figures were found standing together, a painful reminder of the divided political climate we now face. Among them were President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, ex-President Trump and Senate majority leader, Chuck Schumer. The presence of prominent politicians like Michael Bloomberg and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a fervent supporter of Trump, only accentuated this division. Guilliani, it will be remembered, was mayor of New York at the time of the horrific attacks, while Bloomberg took office shortly after in November 2001.
Even more striking was the interaction, or lack thereof, between Harris and Trump seemingly following on from their heated contention in a recent debate held in Philadelphia. Their focused and contentious arguments involved several fraught areas like immigration, economy, foreign policies, and the fiercely disputed topic of abortion. Yet on that day, the only interaction noted between them was a simple handshake before the commencement of the ceremony.
When asked on Fox & Friends if he had plans to speak to Harris at the memorial, Trump responded with a vague, ‘Oh I don’t know, I’m not sure’, further highlighting his dismissive perspective towards her, and the Biden administration as a whole. The epitome of uncertainty on whether to engage in any discussion with his political opponent.
At the memorial event, the names of 2,983 victims of the 9/11 attacks, which struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, United Flight 93, and also including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, were commemorated. The victims’ names were read out loud by the bereaved family members, a stark reminder of the pain and loss suffered during these attacks.
In a poignant tribute, moments of silence were observed citywide at three different timestamps. Silence settled in at 8:46 a.m., marking the time the hijacked Flight 11 hit the North Tower, shortly followed at 9:03 a.m., indicating the time hijacked Flight 175 made an impact on the South Tower. Eventually, silence descended once again at 9:37 a.m., signifying the time Flight 77 struck the Pentagon.
Post the memorial event, the political figures had varying agendas. The much discarded Biden and Harris planned to pay a visit to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Flight 93 had met its disastrous end. Their agenda also included a wreath-laying ceremony at the official Flight 93 National Memorial, an event that could be considered a mere formality more than anything else.
However, Trump along with Vance made their way to Engine Company 4, Ladder Company 15, located in the bustling heart of downtown Manhattan. A sign of their commitment to remembering the brave first responders who risked their lives during the tragic attacks. Vance followed up with a visit to the BGC trading floor, a part of Cantor Fitzgerald, a global financial firm that suffered a substantial loss of over 650 employees during the 9/11 tragedy.
Trump also scheduled a visit to the United Flight 93 Memorial for a private wreath-laying ceremony. It is noteworthy that Trump chose a wreath-laying at the Flight 93 memorial instead of joining the other politicians in less privately held ceremonies. Perhaps this is a nod to Trump’s continued commitment to separating and distancing himself from the views and actions of the Biden administration.