New York marks 25 years since 9/11 without Trump, as first Muslim mayor attends amid backlash

New York is marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks on Friday, when hijacked planes destroyed the World Trade Center's Twin Towers and killed most of the 2,977 people who died that day. President Donald Trump will not attend the New York ceremony, instead paying his respects at the Pentagon, where a third hijacked plane struck.

Vice President JD Vance and all four living former presidents — Republican George W. Bush, who was in office at the time of the attacks, along with Democrats Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — are expected at the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan. No speeches will be given; instead, bereaved family members will read the names of all those killed while a bell tolls to mark key moments of the attack.

Mayor's attendance draws criticism

Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, is also expected to attend, despite a campaign led by the right-wing New York Post and former mayor Rudy Giuliani urging him to stay away. A petition with more than 100,000 signatures accuses Mamdani of associating with people allegedly dismissive of American institutions. City council member Shahana Hanif told CNN she was concerned the mayor was being treated differently because of his faith.

Mamdani recently drew praise for releasing thousands of documents revealing what city officials knew about toxic air quality in Lower Manhattan after the attacks — pollution that has since caused cancer in thousands of New Yorkers.

Lasting toll

Beyond those killed in 2001, more than 9,400 other people have died from illnesses linked to 9/11, according to the federal program that provides medical care to those affected. Around 100 million Americans were not yet born or too young to remember the attacks. Security around the memorial site has been tightened, including an anti-drone team, though officials said there was no known specific threat. Ahead of the ceremony, a drone show featuring 2,977 lights rose above New York Harbor, one for each victim.