JD Vance Addresses 9/11's 25th Anniversary in Michigan — His Phrasing Left Many Uncomfortable

Vice President JD Vance's remarks ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 drew attention for an unexpected choice of words that some listeners quickly questioned.

The controversy followed him to an anniversary marked by solemn ceremonies in New York and Washington, where political leaders gathered to remember those killed in the attacks.

Vance, however, wasn't the only prominent figure whose words or actions generated discussion. As the commemorations unfolded, several moments involving political leaders caught attention online — for very different reasons.

Vance's Remarks Take an Unexpected Turn

Vance was speaking at a rally in Sterling Heights, Michigan, on August 31 when he turned to the upcoming anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

As captured in video of the remarks, Vance began by saying, "We're about to celebrate the 25th year," before immediately changing course.

"9-11. We're about to celebrate the 25th year or commemorate the 25th year of those terrible terrorist attacks and celebrate all the brave heroes who made it — frankly, as terrible as it was, it could have been so much worse," Vance said. "We're about to celebrate those heroes and commemorate those that we lost."

The full statement made a distinction between commemorating the attacks and those who died, and celebrating the heroes. Still, his initial use of "celebrate" quickly became the focus of reactions online.

For some commenters, the word sounded out of place when discussing a terrorist attack that killed thousands of people. "Are we going to start having cookouts to celebrate? No American is celebrating 9/11 - but we will always remember," one person wrote.

Another commenter said, "In NYC we don’t celebrate we Honor!" A third responded with a pointed question: "Celebrate? You bringing’ pizza, dude?" Someone else sarcastically asked, "Oh, celebrate.... Will there be confetti and balloons? 🤔"

Another focused on Vance's observation that the attacks could have been worse, writing, "'As terrible as it was it could have been so much worse' say that to the face of the family members who lost their loved ones."

Yet the response was not one-sided. Several people argued that Vance had simply misspoken, pointing to the rest of his sentence and his immediate switch. "I am NOT a fan of Vance, but I will give him grace on this word mixup," one commenter wrote.

Another said, "Not that I like him or not but he did just misspoke. I think it was just an honest mistake." A third echoed that interpretation: "Conflicting views aside, you can honestly tell this was a mistake and he misspoke."

The competing reactions reflected two readings of the same brief moment. Some objected to the word itself, while others emphasized how quickly Vance corrected his phrasing and clarified what he meant to celebrate. But the discussion did not end with the Michigan appearance.

Another Remark Followed Days Later

On September 3, Vance again discussed the upcoming anniversary ceremony in New York. This time, he spoke about his previous experience at Ground Zero and what attending the ceremony meant to him.

"I will say that as much as it's tragic and it was a terrible day, I am looking forward to it because it's such an amazing honor to be able to get to go to New York and to share in that moment, you know, where the parents and the kids read the names of the people who lost their lives," Vance said in the remarks shared on X.

He then recalled attending previously. "I did it once before, I think during the 2024 campaign; it's one of the most amazing experiences of my life," he said. His description of "looking forward to" the ceremony came only days after his use of "celebrate" in Michigan.

On September 11, the focus shifted from what political figures had said about the anniversary to what happened as they gathered to mark it.

Former Presidents Gather at Ground Zero

The National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City held its commemoration ceremony for those killed 25 years earlier. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden attended with their spouses.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Vance were also among the political figures at the ceremony. An image from the gathering showed several prominent attendees wearing blue ribbon pins as symbols of national unity, respect for victims, and gratitude for first responders.

One detail caught a commenter's attention. "Why VP not wearing blue ribbon?" the person asked. The larger ceremony followed traditions designed to keep the focus on the people killed rather than the political leaders in attendance.

Relatives read the names of the 2,983 men, women, and children killed in the September 11 attacks and the February 26, 1993, bombing of the World Trade Center.

Six moments of silence corresponded with pivotal moments from September 11, including the strikes on the World Trade Center, the towers' collapses, the attack on the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

A seventh silence honored those who later died from illnesses linked to 9/11. Another longstanding rule shaped the ceremony: elected officials did not give speeches.

Political figures once participated by reading poems and historical documents. Since 2012, however, politicians have not been permitted to address the gathering.

Instead, victims' relatives remain at the center of the ceremony as political leaders listen. This year's gathering brought together all four living former presidents. The sitting president, however, was somewhere else.

Trump Marks the Anniversary at the Pentagon

President Donald Trump commemorated the anniversary at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, rather than at Ground Zero. The Pentagon was itself attacked on September 11, 2001, when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building.

Trump's absence from Manhattan had already attracted attention before the anniversary. His team had conducted advance visits at the Memorial, while officials in New York and Washington had initially received indications that he intended to attend.

The plans reportedly changed amid discussions over whether Trump would speak at the ceremony. Four people familiar with those discussions told The New York Times that Trump's desire to speak contributed to the decision not to attend.

That conflicted with the Memorial's longstanding practice of keeping elected officials from addressing the gathering. The White House did not directly answer an earlier question about Trump's schedule. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly instead explained how he intended to observe the anniversary.

"On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the president will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans," Kelly said.

Biden's attendance had been confirmed on September 2. That meant Trump, who was born in New York City and has spoken about September 11 repeatedly over the years, was the only living president not attending the Manhattan observance.

His decision prompted some blunt responses online. One Instagram commenter wrote, "Shocker..." Another responded, "That should say everything 😢."

"The only one from NY isn’t going???" another person asked. A Facebook commenter offered an even shorter assessment: "Sulking." Trump ultimately attended the Pentagon ceremony with first lady Melania Trump. There, another moment involving a political figure began circulating online.

Cameras Focus on Trump During the Ceremony

Video footage from the Pentagon ceremony showed the 80-year-old president seated with his eyes closed, and his head lowered for extended periods. His lip also appeared to droop as he sat during the observance. Some of the footage was recorded while victims' names were being read.

The images alone do not establish whether Trump was asleep or explain his physical condition. Viewers nevertheless offered different interpretations. One X user described the scene as "Trump falling asleep at the Pentagon during the reading of the 9/11 victims."

"There is something seriously wrong with him, and it needs to be revealed," the commenter continued. "If he's too ill to continue as president, we need to take appropriate action to remove him. He's a liability to our nation."

Another person wrote, "he is sick and needs to go home and rest, sadly his admin have no idea what they are doing." Those comments were personal interpretations, not medical evidence. Another viewer read the images differently and connected Trump's expression to the significance of the day.

"Interesting that you can actually see the pain in his face. From remembering this day, that changed Americans forever..." the person wrote. The footage itself establishes only what was visible: Trump sat with his eyes closed, and his head lowered for extended periods.

Meanwhile, Ground Zero had produced another widely discussed image.

Mamdani's Attendance Was Already Controversial

Mamdani arrived at the ceremony after facing a public effort by some 9/11 families and their supporters to keep him away. Three days before the anniversary, a coalition including victims' relatives, first responders, and elected officials gathered outside City Hall.

New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino said organizers were delivering a petition containing more than 101,000 signatures asking Mamdani not to attend. The petition was organized by Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace, was killed in the attacks.

Charles Wolf, who lost his wife on 9/11, was among those urging the mayor to stay away. "We are asking respectfully that he not show up," Wolf said. Wolf acknowledged that other politicians would be there but said those officials had worked with families and supported legislation important to them.

Monica Iken, whose husband, Michael, was killed in the attacks, also said she wanted families' wishes respected during the private ceremony. Organizers said their objections involved Mamdani's policies, political associations, and appointments.

Cheri Sparacio, whose husband, Tom, was killed in the South Tower, said the opposition was not about Mamdani's background or faith. She pointed in part to his appointment of chief counsel Ramzi Kassem, who previously represented people accused of terrorism ties.

Mamdani attended despite the objections. Once there, cameras captured a brief interaction that generated another debate.

A Brief Moment With AOC Divides Viewers

During the reading of victims' names, Mamdani was photographed with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. A photo shared by the New York Post appeared to show the two laughing together.

A separate clip from Ground Zero also showed Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez appearing to laugh while names were being read. A man nearby could be seen crying. Neither the image nor the footage establishes what the two politicians were discussing or why they had those expressions.

Still, some viewers objected to the appearance of the moment, particularly after the petition asking Mamdani not to attend. "Families asked him not to come. He came anyway. Then this," one user wrote. Another commenter acknowledged that context could be missing while criticizing the image.

"What the hell? I hope this photo was published out of context, but I think not," the person wrote. "Don't these people have the common sense, courtesy and sensitivity to maintain quiet awareness? They may just be greeting each other but a solemn face would be appropriate."

Others pushed back against that criticism. "Why? Do u greet people by crying on queue [sic] every time u come across someone at a funeral?" one person asked.

The same disagreement appeared on Facebook. "And Mamdani was photographed laughing with AOC," one commenter wrote. Another replied, "Also shaking Giuliani's hand, but you probably missed that part. 🙄"

"No I didn't," the first commenter responded. Someone else dismissed the controversy, writing, "God forbid someone laughs.... The horror." Mamdani was indeed seen shaking hands with former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani during the gathering.

The different moments gave online commenters very different images from the same hours-long ceremony, without establishing the circumstances behind Mamdani and Ocasio-Cortez's apparent laughter.

New York's Remembrance Extended Beyond Ground Zero

The Ground Zero gathering was the centerpiece of several events across New York marking 25 years since the attacks. The commemorations began September 6 with the Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance in Manhattan.

Judge, an FDNY chaplain killed while ministering to firefighters at the World Trade Center, was recorded as Victim 0001.

Two commemorative films were also screened during the anniversary period. "Remembering Judge" examines his life and legacy, while "Resilience" addresses lasting health consequences suffered by FDNY members involved in rescue and recovery operations.

On September 10, a candlelight vigil at Brooklyn's Wall of Remembrance in Coney Island honored first responders killed during the attacks. Firehouses and EMS stations also opened their doors to visitors, allowing members of the public to meet firefighters, EMTs, and paramedics.

The FDNY's anniversary schedule included its official 25th anniversary ceremony at FerryHawks Stadium on Staten Island for families of people lost on September 11 and in subsequent years. Another ceremony at the FDNY Firefighters Memorial in Manhattan honored the 343 department members killed on September 11, 2001.

Staten Island residents who died in the attacks were remembered at the Postcards Memorial. Engine 10 and Ladder 10, located directly across from the World Trade Center site, opened for a dawn-to-dusk remembrance.

The FDNY Fire Museum held a wreath-laying ceremony, with preserved artifacts offering visitors a look at the department's response to the attacks. Later on September 11, the New York Yankees and New York Mets were scheduled to meet at Yankee Stadium following tributes to victims and first responders.

The anniversary also carried a generational milestone. Approximately 100 million Americans are now too young to remember September 11. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum's 25th anniversary program emphasized remembrance, service, and passing the history of the attacks to generations who did not experience them.

Two Beams Return Over Manhattan

The commemorations continued into the evening with one of the anniversary's most recognizable traditions. At 8 p.m. ET, Disney and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum were scheduled to present "9/11 Tribute in Light: Live from Lower Manhattan."

David Muir, Robin Roberts, and Diane Sawyer were named as hosts of the one-hour broadcast across ABC, Disney+, Hulu, National Geographic, ABC News Live, and participating station livestreams. The program coincided with Tribute in Light, the installation of two towering blue beams designed to evoke the fallen Twin Towers.

First displayed six months after the attacks, the lights have become an annual part of New York's remembrance. Buildings across New York and elsewhere in the United States were also invited to shine blue from dusk until dawn.

Across the ceremonies, political figures repeatedly became subjects of online debate. Trump drew attention at the Pentagon, while Mamdani's interaction with Ocasio-Cortez was scrutinized at Ground Zero.

For JD Vance, however, the controversy had started before the anniversary arrived. It came down to a single word uttered in Michigan — "celebrate" — followed almost immediately by "commemorate."

His full remarks made clear that he went on to speak of celebrating the heroes and commemorating those who were lost. For some listeners, that context showed a verbal mistake; for others, the initial word remained difficult to overlook.

Twenty-five years after September 11, the ceremonies themselves continued to center on the names of those killed, the first responders, and the families carrying their memories.