25th Anniversary of 9/11: Leaders Worldwide Pay Tribute
Twenty‑five years after the September 11 attacks, President Donald Trump, Vice‑President JD Vance, former presidents and first‑ladies, and international dignitaries gathered at the World Trade Center memorial, the Pentagon, and other sites to honour the nearly 3,000 victims and the families who suffered.
At the Pentagon, Trump delivered an address that linked the “war on terror” that followed 9/11 with his current policy agenda. He reiterated that the Islamic Republic of Iran would never possess a nuclear weapon and underscored America’s commitment to remembering the attacks. Around Manhattan, the Tribute in Light splashed two beams across the skyline while a flame‑lit ceremony marked the slosh of those lost on the Twin Towers.
A 9/11 widow in New York spoke at the ceremony, demanding accountability for Saudi Arabia’s role in the attacks and highlighting the absence of justice for the victims. Meanwhile, U.S. and Canadian embassy officials praised the resilience of Gander, Newfoundland, where thousands of diverted passengers found refuge during the crisis. Statements from the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom and the former Prime Minister of Canada conveyed both gratitude and warnings about the fragile peace between the nations.
The day added a seventh bell at the memorial, honouring those who suffered diseases linked to the wreckage and smoke, which health officials say has now claimed more than three‑fold the original death toll. Those who survived the attacks and their families also spoke, reminding the nation of the long‑lasting trauma and loss.
Commemorations unfolded worldwide. In London, a ceremonial service at Buckingham Palace was attended by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and U.S. Ambassador Warren Stephens. Toronto honoured colleagues with a moment at the stock exchange, while Milan’s firefighters climbed the Torre Galfa to mourn the 343 FDNY members who perished in the towers’ collapse.
