Bill Clinton is set to join three other former presidents at the World Trade Center memorial in New York on Friday as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
The ceremony at the Ground Zero site will include Joe Biden, Barack Obama and George W. Bush, the Associated Press reported, and will bring together four living ex-presidents for the commemorations in Manhattan.
Organizers planned a morning program of readings and moments of silence to honor victims and first responders, and news outlets covering the event described former presidents mingling with attendees and officials near the pools where the Twin Towers once stood.
The gathering follows a precedent of past anniversaries: PBS noted that former presidents have stood together at earlier commemorations, including the 20th anniversary in 2021 when presidents gathered at Ground Zero to read names and pay tribute.
Bill Clinton has attended past public memorials and high-profile national ceremonies, and outlets said his presence at the World Trade Center site will be part of a broad list of dignitaries and family members taking part in Friday’s program.
New York coverage of the 25th anniversary emphasized the ceremony’s focus on remembrance and unity; the New York Times live updates and the Associated Press provided live reporting of which leaders and family members were present.
Sources
- TODAY — reported that Bill Clinton and other former presidents were attending the Manhattan ceremony.
- Associated Press — provided live coverage noting that Biden, Obama, Bush and Clinton were at the Ground Zero memorial.
- The New York Times — live updates confirming the presence of all four living former presidents at the 25th-anniversary event.
- PBS NewsHour — provided precedent reporting about presidents gathering at the 20th anniversary in 2021.
Related coverage: Hillary Clinton reflects on 9/11 lessons at 25th‑anniversary World Trade Center and George W. Bush reflects on 25th anniversary of 9/11 in Dallas.
