“They boarded the planes as strangers and they entered eternity linked together as true heroes.”
No way did Trump write this sentence.
3
Kudos to POTUS for striking exactly the right tone needed at so solemn an occasion. The empathy was self evident. The strength of leadership was apparent. No longer will the USA tolerate radical Islamic terror. We will call it out for what it is. Radical Islamic terror, three words Obama refused to utter. That is why we were losing the war on terror until January 20, 2017. If you cannot identify the enemy, you cannot defeat the enemy. Radical Islamic terror must be defeated.
1
@Steve
It might have carried more weight if he had not also denigrated Muslims who were neither "radical" nor "terrorists" by making it more difficult if not impossible for Muslim victims of radical terrorism to seek refuge in America.
Also, because of Trump's bigoted language and attempts at immigration bans on asylum seekers from Muslim nations that we have witnessed spikes in hate crimes in our nation since his election.
So, if you want to "identify the enemy," include Trump's ignorance, dishonesty, and rash behavior.
1
One thing that comes across strongly in the NYT's video "Where the Towers Stood" is how perfect the memorial is. The pool where the tower stood. Water falling, falling, falling -- to a black void. And the sheet of water separated into individual strands -- each rivulet for each person who died that day. Perfect.
I worked in one of the towers for five years during the 1980's -- 1 World Trade Center, the north tower -- on the 68th floor. My law firm had the entire floor. My office looked north over all of Manhattan. On a clear day, I could see all the way uptown to the George Washington Bridge. Wonderful.
Each floor was an unobstructed acre in area. Unobstructed (by internal support elements) because what was holding the building up was on the building's exterior. This was the architect's great innovation -- those evenly spaced vertical strips were not decorative but structural. This design was a reaction – and a solution – to the Empire State Building. That classic skyscraper is impressive on the outside, but the internal structural elements are so massive and take up so much interior space that the offices themselves are cramped -- claustrophobic. The WTC offices, by contrast, were open, airy, suffused with light. Quite wonderful, especially when looking out from the south side offices over the harbor -- all the way to the ocean.
Today, America is under attack again. From within. As we did after 9/11, we will rally. We will rebuild. And we will remember.
32
The church at the base of the towers where George Washington once attended services and which still stands despite the falling debris of the towers will always be the 9/11 memorial that matters to me (and I’m an atheist...).
1
I recently visited the Flight 93 National Memorial. It's a sobering testament to the bravery of the 40 passengers on that doomed flight. I hope to return someday to visit the newly dedicated Tower of Voices, which "will provide a living memorial in sound to remember the forty through their ongoing voices." No other chime structures like this exists in the world. RIP September 11th victims.
29
Maybe I am just cynical, but the the moving speech, written by an excellent speechwriter, does not ring true coming out of the mouth of someone who is normally inarticulate, and always self serving, and who bragged at the time that the horrendous event made his building the tallest one again in the City. Trump's base will no doubt be swooning over him today, and others are congratulating Trump for sounding presidential. He may have sounded "presidential" for the time it took him to deliver the speech, but this man does not have it him be presidential. This was a carefully co-ordinated event today and Trump managed to stay on script for once.
Our family was fortunate that day, our son survived. His office was in the South Tower where the plane went in. My heart goes out to the families of all those who lost loved ones on that tragic day. The firemen and emergency responders and all those who so bravely went into the burning towers to save others will always have my gratitude.
41
It’s amazing how this president can turn a solemn moment for American heroes into a photo-op and make the occasion all about him. He could at least have mentioned President Bush's name, on whose watch the attacks on America occurred, who mobilized the entire country as never before to face up to and defeat the scourge of terrorism.
The president could also have mentioned that the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks met his just end after a relentless hunt for him, noting that no terrorist is ever safe from the long arm of American justice and law enforcement.
That plane was headed for either the White House or the Capitol that morning. The heroes of Shanksville went down but not without a fight to the death to save and preserve their country.
43
While people were still dying, Trump boasted that now his tower was the tallest in that part of the city. He lied about seeing thousand of Muslims celebrating and cheering. He lied about contributing to recovery efforts.
In 2013, his "commemorative" tweet sent good wishes to "the losers and haters," thus managing to make the day about himself and his own victimization.
His first official trip abroad was to Saudi Arabia, where the majority of the hitchhikers originated. Saudi Arabia was conspicuously not on the terrorism travel ban.
His first tweet this morning was another attack on our justice system and the Mueller investigation. It was followed by one in which he posted a picture of himself, center stage, pumping his fists in the air.
Is it any wonder most of us look on his speech with some degree of cynicism? The victims, families, and first responders of 9/11 deserve so much better
And here's a shout-out to Canada, our close ally with whom he is currently feuding, for taking in thousands of stranded air passengers, housing and feeding and comforting them until they could return home.
67
The heroes of Flight 93 are distinct in at least two ways. First, their heroics were not part of their job. They had neither the equipment or formal training to do what they did. Second, their efforts prevented a direct hit on our common government.
The plane was prevented from hitting its taget without intervention of a TSA screener or an air martial. It was not shot down by a fighter pilot who would have had to live with having done so in spite of being the right thing.
Instead it was prevented by extraordinary, ordinary people who got together to be heros in their last minutes. Who summoned extraordinary courage and selflessness in those final moments. Courage which most of us have had to exercise.
It sent a tingle up my spine to realize such courage and selflessness is scattered about among the otherwise ordinary looking people around us waiting to emerge when needed.
65
The only authentic thing about Trump's appearance yesterday was the fist pump. The speech was written by others and read by him. While some may say that he hit the correct tone in the speech, the tone was overpowered by the faux machismo. His appearance reminded me of the overweight bully hopping off the school bus on his way to play in a junior high football game.
No wonder the royals didn't invite him to the June wedding.
2
Two of our biggest national disasters: 9/11 and the Trump presidency. Let’s just be glad he didn’t start chucking paper towels (or MAGA hats) into the crowd.
Bless our 9/11 heroes for their sacrifice. And for giving us hope.
1
True to form it’s about the Trumps: Jr , his buildings....this is no leader. He wouldn’t know a hero if one dropped on his head. This coward ran from Vietnam, blames all but himself (never accepting responsibility), and the biggest insult- HE gets to make a speech about heroism?
Please, go home Donald . Wherever that might be. But we sure as heck don’t want you in NYC mouthing your 100% cheap insincerities.
As for those that died, the best memorial is a few minutes of silence.
Don’t ever expect that scenario from this publicity hungry bunch of public antic verbal diarearists..
1
Pumping fists and remarks about fighting back are indicative of a mindset that prevails in this President's thinking, from a man who eschewed service in the USA military when he was younger!
9
Trump is always wanting to save money, why didn’t he drive across town to the Pentagon? No protesters there either.
2
He should care so much about the living. His neglect in Puerto Rico is the 9/11 for that island.
8
Mr Trump wouldn't dare go near NYC !
He would be shunned in his own home town.
7
There doesn’t seem to be another place fora comment like this, so may I recommend the NYT Op-Doc, “Where the Towers Stood.” It is quiet and powerful, thoughtful and beautiful, all the qualities far from the political arena that a solemn day like this should have. The memories of the moment and the days that followed came washing over me again, still strong. Will it always be like this? I think this is the way it should be. I think if the feelings faded, that sense of being suddenly thrust into a strange reality, then it would be a sign of something vital within me lost. We move on because we do. But I hope never to lose touch.
4
Hey, he did a good thing, travelling to pay respect to victims of a terror attack. Just saying.
1
Sure. And this time he didn’t even brag about now having the tallest building in lower Manhattan. Just saying.
2
2,996 American people died on September eleventh.
3,000 American people died as a result of Trump’s failures in Puerto Rico. Joe Scarborough was tactless, but he was not actually incorrect.
8
9/11 united us.
The president makes it all about himself.
GOP legislators and candidates remain SILENT.
Film at 11.
3,000 lives lost because the enemy couldn't stand that we are free, a democracy, and a country who took care of all its citizens.
9/11 - We worried about and experienced losses of privacy and saw war in all the wrong places. But it was the U.S. figuring things out together to preserve a country that takes care of each other.
Today - the president honors 9/11 making it all about himself.
How sick and tragic that one person (man is a stretch) can divide a nation, create such internal distrust, fear monger, elevate dictators on the world stage, alienate allies, show respect for racists - - and - - demean POWs, parents of soldiers kill in action, and lie about the event for his personal benefit - - and - -
without anyone flinching or his freaking base caring he makes 9/11 all about HIM.
Bin Laden killed 3,000 and blew up buildings - this president has gone after the Statue of Liberty. Sad irony that today it is revealed he took fema money from HURRICANE RECOVERY to build internment camps.
6
No he didn't. All this president did was self congratulate himself, yet again. For what, who knows. It was a disgrace he was even allowed to be on the premise. He dishonored those who died on that flight as well as all of hose who perished on 9/11. For this New Yorker to have such total and complete inconsideration is beyond the pale.
6
Not sure about this story--Flight 93. Parts found miles apart.
1
"They boarded the planes as strangers and they entered eternity linked together as true heroes.”
Kudos to the speech writer. Who must be delighted that Trump actually stuck with the teleprompter this time.
For where Trump was focused: see his morning tweets.
2
That this disgusting human was allowed to particpate is simply beyond my comprehension.
13
@Andy Hain
On 9/11 Trump bragged about how that made his building the tallest, today was at least less disgusting than that.
https://people.com/politics/trump-911-interview-building-tallest-lower-m...
1
After reading the words written by someone else to commemorate 9/11, Trump reverted to his own eloquent ways to describe hurricane Florence. Ready? Trump said Florence would be ‘tremendously big and tremendously wet’. Does it get any better?
7
@Liberty Apples
And the Big Bang, the most "bigly" Stupendous event ever!!
This day, remembering those lost on September 11th 2001, deserves better than tweets, fist pumps, lapel pins and a few rare moments of civility while “sticking to the script.”
I’d expect better from a native New Yorker never mind a President.
10
Trump has at least two lies on Sept. 11.
Lie one: He said he had friends who were killed in the collapse of the Towers..... and then never named anyone. Did he point out today which name was the name of any of his "friends"?
No. Nor will he next year, either.
And Lie two was that he, personally, saw thousands of Muslims dancing in joy on the rooftops when the Towers collapsed. Really? I thought he was holed up on the 68th floor of trump tower that day....
Who lies about such things?
What a fraud.
20
Oh, please. He wasn’t honoring anyone. The fist bump and the grin? How revoltingly, sickeningly inappropriate and crude and tone-deaf. He and his cronies are too busy destroying and mocking every principle that people died for on and after September 11 to honor anyone but themselves and their bankers.
27
If you believe Trump Tower is “not far” from WTC you’ve taken the President’s truthful hyperbole as fact.
7
Why in the world did Trump make the fist bumps and have a smear on his face?!
Melanie's mood and behavior looked more appropriate.
16
She always looks somber
8
Just when you think he can’t go lower he attacks the FBI on the morning of the 9/11 anniversary. It’s doubtful he or his dwindling number of supporters know or care but a number of FBI agents were killed on 9/11 including a counter terror specialist who was in the WTC.
24
Thank goodness he did not go anywhere near New York. The last thing NewYork honor needs on 9/11 is Donald J. trump.
22
Once again, Trump embarrasses himself and is completely oblivious to it. Double fist bumps at the site of a horrific tragedy? Check. Starting the day of remembrance tweeting his usual garbage about how innocent he is and what a victim he is? Check. The whole day was a joke to him. He has no sympathy for the families who lost loved ones on 9/11. What a terrible man. Soulless. Small. Sorry.
42
I saw images of Trump doing fist pumps and thumbs up. That doesn’t seem like honoring the fallen to me.
23
What a pathetic man this President is...doing a fist pump when he is at a ceremony to honor the heroes who fought for their lives and saved many others...Disgusting. Melania seems to cringe. No wonder.
22
@JHM,
She can cringe all she wants, I feel no pity for her . . . she married him.
8
9/11 Never forget
11/9 Always regret
34
VOTE NOV 6th
Then re all Nov 7 th as the day we started the rebuilding of our country.
“The evil that descended on America 17 years ago still lingers in our world”
And one of its factions occupies the White House as we speak. Its leader went to Shanksville and wondered why his adoring crowds weren’t bigger.
18
His fist pumps aren’t that controversial. His followers were excited to see him, like witnessing David Koresh at this memorial site. Oh wait, this wasn’t Waco Texas. Sorry Mr. Trump, wrong site.
8
Clearly someone wrote this line for him: “They boarded the planes as strangers and they entered eternity linked together as true heroes.”
13
What an ugly, small man. Craven and without empathy. I've given up looking for it, much less expecting it. He just doesn't have the capacity, or, he is in some way limited in understanding or expressing it. Even that isn't a fatal, disqualifying flaw, or even necessarily his fault -- I am really trying to be generous here! -- not required for an 'everyday' person like you or me.
But is IS disqualifying for a President of the UNITED States.
Thus, it is my most fervent wish that he is NOT re-elected in 2020.
Because the thought of him clueless lumbering around the NYC 9/11 Memorial Plaza on the 20th anniversary in 2021, and spouting some gibberish on that sacred ground, is something I could simply not bear.
If I live so long, I intend to be there several times between now and then, and it would mean a great deal to be there on the occasion of the 20th anniversary.
But I would have to 'stand down' were he to be there.
Hopefully, I will not have to make that choice. Hopefully, there will be a different elected President by that time.
~ 9/11 family member
35
Let this day be about those who lost their lives ..... those who risked their lives to save lives .... those who lost the loves of their lives. Just for today let politics wait for tomorrow.
8
“Heroes”? Yeah, not buying it from a guy who devalued the heroism of service personnel who were “captured.” He likely holds anyone “killed” in even less esteem.
21
As so many people of all races, creeds, international friends, gathered in New York City once again the services were respectful and so important to remember all of our friends who went to work and never came home. One gentleman who was speaking made reference to the fact that so many people were at the World Trade Site and he realized that the American people would never forget ever. Like Pearl Harbor it is a day that will live in infamy.
It was with real horror when I arrived home and saw the display Trump showed when he stepped off the airplane in Pennsylvania. My heart broke for the families that had to watch his erratic behavior. For al of us Seventeen years have passed and our loved ones have been gone and today of all days, Trump did not have to make it all about him a five time draft dodger.
We will never forget nor let a disturbed person a draft dodger take away from the memorial services that were held for our loved ones.
22
Trump's presence is hardly any honor. All we really learned today is yet more about why no one wants him at a funeral.
37
Let’s send the Donald back to reality tv where we can turn him off. Make America great again!
28
Surprisingly he refrained from blaming it all on Hillary and the Democrats.
28
Looking at the photo of trump pumping his fists as if he's just won a wrestling tournament, it occurs to me that this so-called president defines what it means to be "tone deaf".
29
Honors? Paid tribute? I think the Washington Post headline gets it right:
"On Sept. 11 anniversary, Trump launches fresh attacks on FBI and Justice Department with dubious allegation"
24
What a way to pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 by fist thumping and tweeting. But Donald Trump did not disappoint me....this exactly what I expected from him.
20
It’s a disgrace that given Trump’s known historical and current behavior (just today, he tweeted “17 years since 9/11!) that the New York Times would choose the word “honor” to describe Trump’s actions. A more accurate title might be “Trump attends 9/11 ceremonies”. I don’t think John Kelly or Jim Mattis would use that word in that manner.
And if anybody is questioning impeachment or use of the 25th Amendment against Trump, they should stop and think about how Trump might respond to a 9/11-type event during his Presidency.
23
@Ying Wang god forbid
7
Surprisingly, nothing, nothing was left of that plain and people inside that airplane.
1
Maybe in another 20 or 30 years the files will be declassified and we will see the truth that Dick Cheney ordered the missile strikes that took it out. I never understood how one of the engines was recovered from a lake/reservoir 5 miles from the impact location. Also, this was the first-ever airliner crash in my lifetime that was never re-constructed for close examination. It took years for the FAA to rebuild that airliner from Alaska Airlines that crashed off the coast of Oxnard,CA to confirm cause.
4
When Trump comes on TV, the TV goes off. His every utterance is meaningless.
30
Please, please, stay engaged with what he's doing. It's critical that we witness his transgressions so that we know the true story of the downfall of our government.
7
I think Melania averting her eyes says it all when Trump is doing the ridulous fist pump.
19
@Javaforce,
She can avert her eyes all she wants. It doesn't change the fact that she married him!
5
Fist pumps on 9/11 — Trump is always outrageously inappropriate, unpresidential — somber, reflective, dignified are not within his juvenile capabilities.
26
On 9/11, double fist pump, mouth in an aggressive grimace, fight or flight response on high. This is the world of a malignant narcissist. It can never be anything but about him.
34
Can nothing that happens in this country NOT be turned into an "I hate Trump"! moment? Get a grip, folks, and remember what happened on 9/11 and Trump was not to blame for it.
10
@India Trump was not to blame for it. He also has no right to exploit it and to taint the memory of those who bravely endured it.
11
Your president acted like the juvenile boy that he is. Starting the day off with a tweet about collusion and then fist pumping and grinning in PA as though he was attending a rally. Yes, I hate him.
14
@India I'll stop hating Trump when he stops doing hateful things. For heaven's sake, he disparaged the DOJ, FBI, Eric Holder and Hillary Clinton in tweets today.
13
Really? Trump needs to weaponize 9/11 and turn it into a culture war issue? Is that really what Americans need or want? To fight about a tragedy that once united us?
Mr. Trump seems incapable of taking a simple decent, respectful action without immediately turning around and picking a fight with someone else about whatever the issue is... No sense of propriety or common decency, constantly walking on his own thumbs.
17
Trump's speech was so scripted and he delivered it like an Actor. Nobody believes he has an empathetic bone in his body.
28
I find it unbearable to watch him try to read the teleprompter and emote any kind of understanding or empathy at the same time. Is his attention span so limited that he can't even practice a speech for something like this in advance? SAD!
5
Only this unthinking buffoon would strike a campaign pose on his way to a 911 memorial?
28
Remember how amazing Guliani was during 9/11. How we thought he would run for president and make major changes in how things were done. How effectively he handled 9/11 compared to Bush handling Hurricane Katrina.
How sad that no longer is he someone who we think will help save America. He is no longer someone we want anywhere near the White House. He is no longer someone to trust or be believed.
29
Draft dodger Trump does not know the meaning of sacrifice or honor.
27
His first tweet of 9/11 was about "no collusion" and "what about FBI, DOJ, and Hillary."
Then he got around to, oh yeah that's right, it's 9/11.
I am mortified and ashamed of this immoral president and the complicit Republicans.
46
Donald's speech is not extemporaneous. It is prepared speech which sounded hallow devoid of sympathy that predictably reflects him. The 10-15 second eulogy of a 7 year old as they recite their names at the WTC site gives more credence than Donald.
16
Could it be a coincidence that Putin chose this time to launch a spectacle of war games in the company of buddy Xi?
6
Looks like he’s looking over that glass handrail and thinking “I wonder what a golf course and a hotel would look like here?” We know that’s all he’s interested in.
18
Obviously Trump's remarks were scripted by a speechwriter. If he had been speaking spontaneously, Trump would have told us how he would have singlehandedly stormed the cockpit to take out the hijackers and proclaimed himself a hero.
22
Trump honors? You mean he stopped tweeting for a few minutes to read what someone else wrote. If it ain’t Trump, he don’t honor it. Never has, never will.
23
Just imagine if either Bush or Obama had arrived at a 9-11 memorial ceremony pumping their fists like an eighth grader.
He is garbage and sullies everything he encounters.
53
@Dominic I don't disagre with you in the main, but please! I teach eighth graders. They would never do such a thing.
6
People need to get over their political ties in moments like this. It was inevitable that people had to say something against Trump but why do it today? Such a somber day. Can’t it be let go for 24 hours?
9
He didn't, so why should we?
16
@Todd Did you even read the article? Look at the photos? You have the audacity to chastise the people who were shattered by the enormity of this attack, many of whom lost friends and family. And you dare to chide them for criticizing the man who waltzes up to this somber ceremony fisting as if it was one of his campaign rallies?
Take a look at this article in the WaPo.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/09/11/trumps-long...
11
@Todd,
Are you seriously more concerned about people saying bad things about Trump than recognizing his buffoonish behavior on sacred ground? Who are you to tell U.S. Citizens how to behave from Australia? Why do you even care what we say about Trump?
3
Trump and Melania really don't care--do we? Yes, we do.
24
In the photo, DT carries himself like a prize fighter about to enter the ring - fists raised and teeth bared. This is a solemn occasion, not a pugulistic event. It is sad that DT can't seem to tell the difference. In his mind, this commemoration is just another venue to tout himself.
I sincerely believe that that the commander in chief is demented. Every occasion seems to be about legitimizing his presidency which I believe he is knows is tainted...and for good reason.
45
Caught two minutes of TV coverage. Since Trump obviously didn't write the words, he was totally disengaged and pathetically insincere. Trump's a bad actor, literally and figuratively.
46
After 9/11 my wife and I volunteered to prepare meals for the workers working to remove debris due to the collapse of the twin towers. We did this for several months even though we both were working full time. We worked the Friday @ 7pm to Saturday @ 7am shift.
What did Trump do, please see the following:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/22/donald-tr...
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-bizarre-q...
https://people.com/politics/trump-911-interview-building-tallest-lower-m...
We all know that "Cadet Bone Spurs" is a coward.
We the people MUST vote in 2018 and 2020 to kick him and the Republican swamp out of office.
56
@Air Force Veteran Thank you for your service.
20
You see, President Trump, many of our Nation’s finest heroes did not win an immediate victory as a result of their heroism. Many have perished or suffered grave injuries, and one you formerly criticized was shot down and spent five and a half years as a POW. Their victories are more nuanced and take shape and power over years and decades not moments. It’s good to see you are evolving on this topic. Candidate Trump: “He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."
6
@Todd Olinger
"I like people that weren't captured."
With the notable exception of people who were captured by Russian intelligence and turned into traitorous dupes. He loves people like that--one in particular above all.
10
I thought Trump did not view people who were killed or captured as heroes. Well I guess it was just expedient politics to criticize McCain, a leader of the Republicans who viewed Putin as a threat, and try to take him down and discredit him. It was the signal the Trumpinis needed to treat McCain with disdain, even as he was dying. And now it's just expedient to go politicking around 9/11 and highlight the dead resisters. Just another media story with little sincerity or consistency, and mostly hypocrisy, as we've come to know.
9
I feel it is important to share this as might help some understand how we are products of a deep divide in this nation and it was not Muslims cheering from the rooftops as Trump claims.
I joined a large surgical group in Birmingham, AL in 1999. On the night of 9/11, the group decided not to reschedule our monthly meeting. Discussing the financials was apparently more important. As a New Yorker who lived in Manhattan my roots were in stark contrast to the other surgeons, largely from the south. Meeting was mandatory.
Dinner and the agenda was completed while the majority of surgeons laughed about that days catastrophe. They laughed while watching the towers fall. U.S citizens, born, bred, raised and educated laughed. If anyone can think of a more despicable display of character, it would be those who accuse Muslims of cheering
26
@Michael
Are you serious? If this is true, with highly educated people, then it seems clear, I don't know what to say...we are on a downward spiral to total tribalism. And by this, I mean anarchy.
The people of Flight 93 deserve no less than late Senator McCain. Yet, according to Trump, McCain was no hero because he was captured.
13
trump can't get an invite to a wedding, funeral or a remembrance. He reads somebody else's heart-felt sympathies after he acted like he was going to a football game. I think “They boarded the planes as strangers and they entered eternity linked together as true heroes” sounds like his "Ryan's [Owens] legacy is etched into eternity," back in February 2017. Some folks may say,"give the guy a break", but a couple of weeks ago he disdain a real hero.
16
I wonder why Trump chose not go to NYC for the memorial service in his hometown? Surely Trump and Giuliani standing side by side would have been a potent symbol of unity for the nation. I gather he did not have the same courage of the heroes of Flight 93.
12
@Judy They would have been unwelcome.
5
“America’s future is not written by our enemies. America’s future is written by our heroes.”
Arguably, the 9/11 guys won and America's future is written as a radical makeover to a militarized police state full of long security checkpoints and mass hysteria around brown people.
They didn't want to just kill a couple thousand people. They wanted to change policy. They changed the world... they're called terrorists and our reaction has been nothing short of terrorized.
17
“They entered eternity linked together as true heroes.”
That’s exactly what the attackers believed, if not verbatim.
15
Fist pumping his crowd. Even on this solemn day for the American people, Trump makes it about himself. He is incapable of empathy for others, and that’s why his scripted speeches sound so wooden and devoid of real feeling. What a damaged human being you have for a president.
79
I read a lot of these comments and it warms my heart that AMERICA is seeing Trump for what he is!!! God bless there is hope after all. Can't wait until 11/6 to put an end to this clown show.
40
DJT's double-fist pump greeting to the people at the airport betrays anything he later said at the ceremony, especially this: "A piece of America's heart is buried on these grounds, but in its place has grown a new resolve to live our lives with the same grace and courage as the heroes of Flight 93.".
15
Gee, Trump shows empathy in his speech? Clearly written by someone else.
22
Trump and the word "honor" do not belong in the same sentence.
Fortunately for him, there are Christians and there are Donald Trump Christians, who believe:
1. God created mankind in his own image (that of a Caucasian male)
2. Lying, bullying and cheating are not sins when committed by Donald Trump
3. Religious and racial discrimination are perfectly acceptable when practiced BY Caucasian-Christians AGAINST non-Caucasian-Christians.
4. God will forgive them no matter how many of His teachings they ignore, so long as they do so in support Donald Trump
Amen.
“I think every good Christian ought to kick [Jerry] Falwell right in the a-s.” – US Senator Barry Goldwater (Time Magazine, July 20 1981)
28
It's obvious Trump didn't write this speech - too many multi-syllable words. Wouldn't it be hilarious if the 'unkown Op Ed writer' turns out to he the one that did?
40
Listening to Trump’s treacly speech on 911 reinforces my belief that the time has come to end these yearly day long ceremonies. Those of us who lived through it will never forget...let the families visit the site and grieve in as much privacy as they can and let us move on.
23
@Joanne,
Thank you for saying that. I was in my 30s on that day and I really don't need to be reminded every year of the horror I (we all) felt. The media replaying the planes hitting the towers. Zooming in on people as they run for their lives. Or even the classic devastating footage of the guy falling from the Tower. Then to add insult to injury, the banal "Never Forget" phrase tossed around with little meaning anymore. Seriously, what good can come from all of that every year? It's sick.
3
@ACM
I am ten years ahead of you and completely concur.
As much in that the Government's response has been such a total catastrophe, public officials presence are not welcome.
Technical question: Don't you have to have honor to give, before you can honor someone? Don't you have to demonstrate your ability to recognize a person's honorable actions, before you can actually accredit someone with honor? Donald Trump has never demonstrated to anyone he has any concept of honor.
20
There's nothing like watching the Bone Spur Draft Dodger paying tribute to true patriots who fought and gave their lives so others could live.
There is nothing Trump will ever do that will put him at the same level as those people.
All that died that day and the people that responded to the horror and are now paying for it, they are all hero's, forever.
23
How absolutely appalling that the victims' families have to listen to trump making inane, cringe-worthy comments when he is on record gloating about the fact that his building in New York was now the tallest building after the September 11 attack. If memory does not fail me, he made these remarks either on the day of or the day after September 11th.
25
@mariamsaunders Yes, Donald said that about the downtown area and his building on 40 Wall St.
But architectural reports in 2016 showed that after the attacks, 70 Pine Street actually became the tallest building in the area at 952 feet. The Trump Tower at 40 Wall Street only stands at 927 feet
https://www.indy100.com/article/trump-had-an-unusual-reaction-to-911-jus...
7
“Let us never forget that Donald Trump would rather sell munitions to the Saudis, and continue our war in Afghanistan, than ever think of choosing to cut off a revenue source.”
22
Did he happen to mention the Canadians who hosted all the passenger planes the US was afraid to let into their airspace? Or the search and rescue teams that rushed to New York? Or the Canadian soldiers who lost life and limb in Afghanistan? I doubt it he is too busy demonizing us over a silly spat about some milk products. He does not care how much goodwill he is destroying just so he can look like a tough negotiator to his poorly educated followers.
44
@shoe smuggler
We Americans love Canada, our great neighbor and ally.
Please don't take Trump seriously. We all hope to get him out of office as soon as possible. Until then, Canada, thank you and keep the faith.
1
@shoe smuggler
I am so glad to hear from a Canadian on Canada's vital support to us during that time and to this day. Even though I, like millions, watched the news constantly for many months after this tragedy, I didn't understand the depth and full extent of Canada's selfless assistance during and after 9/11, i.e., food, clothing, shelter, money, whatever was needed. Not until I met 6 Canadian attorneys years later, who had personal knowledge of Canada's help, did I learn about the outpouring of support Canadians gave us. While I understand the focus was and is on the tragedy and loss of life, we will not forget our Canadian [and other countries'] friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
16
On 9/11 I always think of Rick Rescorla.
A true hero who gave his own life to save others.
14
There's something about this visit by Trump that doesn't feel right, at least by me. Nonetheless, the tragic loss of life and the grief suffered from the terrorist attacks on this day, 17 years ago, warrant such solemnity that negative or cynical criticism seems out of place. The practice of discipline for the sake of civility is not easy. The "high road" Mrs. Obama spoke about once not long ago, is part of this, I think.
9
“They boarded the planes as strangers and they entered eternity linked together as true heroes.”
Try to imagine how this would have read if Trump wrote his own speech. Probably something like this:
"How tremendously terrific for America that the Fantastic and Incredible Donald Trump was not on one of those planes!!!!!
25
@Marcus Aurelius
Good speech writers try to sound like the people they are writing for. Trump would never say that. For starters, note that "I" doesn't appear once in that sentence.
6
@Marcus Aurelius President Obama wrote his own speeches - not all of course - but he wrote some and he was always involved with his speech writers' making sure it was expressing the right tone, the right content. And he had the intelligence to make sure of it.
8
@KJ Or perhaps: "It's a shame those losers on the plane were unable to stop the hijackers. I like passengers who win".
16
So Trump doesn't like military personnel who get captured, but he likens victims of a terrorist plane crash to heroes.
Trump "logic."
25
@Rocky L. R.
You TDS people are about as deplorable as anyone I can think of. The people on that plane sacrificed themselves to save many others but they are no heros? You disparage their sacrifice to "score one" against Trump? Despicable.
1
@Somebody,
What is your definition of a "hero" if you don't think those passengers were? How long do you think Dodger Bone Spurs would have lasted in Vietnam the way McCain did?
The speech seemed like someone was trying to transplant "The Flight 93 Election" by Publius onto the Gettysburg Address. Did Michael Anton write it?
1
From the looks of it and complete with a fist pump--Paw Paw looks excited to have gone for a ride on a helicopter. As a taxpayer, I'd rather he play golf than act like a commander in chief.
26
I can’t believe it’s been 17 years. It was a drunken tearful day in Portland Oregon. We were really more than tipsy and angry, now I am tipsy and filled with hate. Not for the hijackers of the airliners, but for the hijackers of our country. There is very little light between Mohmad Atta and Donald Trump. Both men despise Democracy.
68
President Trump's critics and enemies cannot even stop themselves from making snarky comments on September 11 which is one of the saddest days in American history. It would have been nice if they could have refrained from these negative responses for at least one day out of respect for the deceased.
Their hate for President Trump is so strong that they did not even consider those who lost their lives during these terrorist attacks. This is the height of disrespect for the families who are still grieving after 17 years. Shame on them.
9
@WPLMMT Trump started the day by attacking our justice system and the Mueller investigation. He then tweeted a photograph of himself doing fist pumps in the air on the way to the memorial ceremony.
Perhaps you ought to address him about disrespect.
17
I'm sorry, but don't confuse respect for Donald Trump, whose record on personal courage is, we'll, let's say "questionable" with respect for those on that flight who truly made the ultimate sacrifice for a greater, collective good. I imagine that this is beyond the ken of Trump or his supporters, including the one who left this comment.
1
@WPLMMT
Yes, we do mourn those who lost their lives on 9/11. We are disgraced by a draft-dodging, hero-insulting, narcissistic sociopath delivering a hypocritical homely when every day he insults all Americans and our Democracy. He admires and supports despots like Kim, Putin, Xi and has done absolutely nothing to further the lives of Americans without a quid pro quo for himself.
This Dotard is a disgrace and we should, by all means, note this on such a solemn day. Those who dies would agree and would undoubtedly be appalled at having given their lives to protect him and his acolytes.
THAT, WPLMMT, is the disgrace that colors everything in America these days. The same was said for McCain's funeral - the true American Hero whom Trump demeaned relentlessly because McCain stood for righteous principles and Trump is a crook.
Get your priorities in order.
5
Trump is right about Google discriminating against him. If you Google Trump + honors, you get absolutely nothing.
26
@Steve Griffith
Not that Trump deserves any "honors," but I just did what you suggested and discovered that you are not exactly telling the truth. I Googled "Trump honors" and got 57,800,000 results.
3
@MyThreeCentsI guess you trust google more than you do the actual truth.
1
Maybe the First Lady is standing there and praying for those who died but Trump is thinking how one of his golf courses might fill that space. Donald J. Trump is devoid of any human qualities.
33
"On the bright side, I suddenly owned the second tallest building in lower Manhattan, managed to snag 150,000 taxpayer dollars, and saved $10,000 by not honoring the pledge I made for 9/11 victim relief."
64
It is galling to have President Bone Spurs even talk about heroism and bravery. Of rising up and uniting.
Vote on November 6th and staunch this stain on American history.
38
He truly the reprehensible of creatures. Can not even silence his ego for one single day
65
Trump is making America grate—on my nerves—again.
44
Fist-pumping to "honor" 9/11 victims? This deplorable poser continues to display his utter lack of any true compassion for anyone else but himself.
Register today and VOTE OUT his cowardly enablers in November!
86
Trump/Republicans are a blight on America.Trump gave a fist pump on the way to a 911 memorial service. Trump attacked the FBI today;911.. Trump attacked the Russia investigation today; 911. Trump gave a thumbs up sign at 911 service today. Trump is not fit for office. Ray Sipe
70
Donald Trump began this day with a self-serving, whining tweet about 'no collusion' and the DOJ going after Hillary Clinton.
Then, in a typically low-rent gesture, he arrived in Red State PA with a double fist-bump to his sycophants.
Note: this son of New York dared not appear at Ground Zero. One suspects he wouldn't get the fulsome welcome he feels is his due.
You can take THAT to the bank...
NOT my president.
144
While even a broken clock is right twice a day, at least the president did something right today in paying tribute "to the airline passengers and crew members who stormed the cockpit of a hijacked plane and thwarted terrorists in the skies over Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001" . . . while remembering "the moment when America fought back as "they boarded the planes as strangers and entered eternity linked together as true heroes.”
There is very little, if anything positive I can attribute this president of, but I am thankful that he did not forget, dismiss, or ignore the valiant and gallant efforts made by so few that saved the lives of so very many.
I still will never like nor trust nor respect Donald Trump, but at least today he remembered the brave and heroic actions of these incredible Americans.
Profound and deep condolences to everyone who lost a loved one on 9/11.
38
Marge Keller, I thought the same, then viewed the accompanying photo of the double fist pump. This president cannot do anything that requires dignity.
27
@merchantofchaos
I hear ya, especially the part about that ridiculous look on his face while double fist pumping, and then I thought about all of the individuals who perished and the loved ones who were and are still affected by the actions taken on 9/11. I keep reminding myself that today, my thoughts and focus are ONLY with those individuals. Today, no one else matters in my heart.
1
Absolutely. I'm quite sure that the idea for this came from his Comms strategists and not from Trump himself. But, as usual Trump couldn't contain himself and fluffed it.. Totally useless....an excuse for a President.
12
trump dramatically read a script in PA recalling the events of 9/11; it was excrutiating to watch because it lacked anything resembling painful recollections and empathy. What trump does remembers about that day is seeing nonexistent Muslims dancing in the NJ streets. It doesn't matter that he is the only person EVER to have seen that. In trumpworld, truth isn't truth, so whatever trump thinks he sees becomes his fact.
32
Very nice quote from Mr Felt, Americans should rise up and be better. A truly unifying statement that should be easily agreed upon.
9
Whiledriving toward New Jersey, we did witness people cheering when we were leaving New York. I'm not sure if you want to say "debunked".
1
Trump was too much the coward to come to NYC. Has any President ever been so hated by his home town?
83
@Sparky
To answer your question:
No
NOT my president
15
Trump, big supporter of Alex Jones the leader of the 9/11 “truth” movement, probably thinks it was all an “inside job”.
18
because nothing conveys solemn respect like a double fist pump
64
Please notice that the occupant of 1600 didn't attend the ceremonies in NYC. Why do you imagine he was absent? He likes crowds. He likes to wear his patriotism loud. A million people and his hometown?
This is the man whose initial reaction to 9/11 was that he now had the tallest building in lower Manhattan.
Every picture tells a story.
54
I'm surprised he didn't say "I like heroes who didn't crash".
154
PM, 17 years and it's STILL too soon. Respect
1
@merchantofchaos,
Respect? How do you feel about Trump's Double Fist Pump on sacred ground?
@PM,
Don't listen to merchantofchaos. Your comment nailed Trump perfectly.
1
Double fist pump? No sense of occasion. No decorum. No class.
153
Donald Trump disgraces yet another American day and sacred place.
November 6 2018
VOTE
147
Moral heroes are currently in very short supply in American politics.
I see nothing on the political horizon which encourages me to think that the supply of them will be substantially increased anytime soon.
The better question at this time is what, if anything, can be done to bring about positive change in an America currently filled with political leaders who are acting as everything but heroes.
The list of our self-serving political cowards is long and dreary.
It is headed at this moment by Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Rudy Giuliani, The Freedom Caucus and, of course, Donald John Trump.
The only real hero I can think of right now off the top of my head is the one who got captured.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/20/house-freedom-caucus-wha...
12
He should be in NYC, but PA is Red, NY is Blue......what a disgrace!
26
@mary ann I'm glad he stayed away.
32
Exactly. Doubt he would have gone over well in NYC or in DC. With that maniacal double fist pump. It’s really sad.
28
Try to imagine the cowardly conduct of our Cadet Bone Spurs had he been a passenger on Flight 93. This is the very same man who bragged to his vulgar hero Howard Stern that in lieu of service in the military, he performed valiant duty here at home [while McCain, Kerry and others better than he were in Vietnam] and was 'a good soldier' by engaging in promiscuous, unprotected sex despite the risk of STDs.
This vile, blustering, pusillanimous man's presence at the site of this memorial is a taint on the site and an insult to the common people who rose to the occasion on Flight 93.
Donald Trump - the spoiled rich kid, phony 'man of the people,' who would never stoop to fly on a commercial airliner - even in the midst of bankruptcy. He would, instead, force others to bear the pain of his own failure while maintaining his own entitled life of luxury.
Shame.
112
@chambolle Could not have said it better....
7
@chambolle I for one hope he is suffering in the same manner as Al Capone. trump should have gone to Vietnam...I have seen the results of syphilis on patients in the hospital that goes untreated. Tax evasion (?), money laundrying (?), Russia (?), prison & syphilis. Not a pretty picture.
7
trump's 9/11:
The following morning, ...
A little more than a minute later, Marcus asked whether Trump’s 40 Wall Street building had suffered any damage. Before getting into his response about his Financial District property, the businessman had something he wanted on the record.
“40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan, and it was actually, before the World Trade Center, was the tallest — and then, when they built the World Trade Center, it became known as the second tallest,” Trump said in the WWOR interview. “And now it’s the tallest.”
58
Trump also claimed that he sent 200 construction workers to ground zero to help with the rescue and clean up efforts. In typical Trump fashion he make sure it sounds plausible but it never happens.
24
Fist pumping trump at a 09/11 memorial??? Why am I not surprised. When will this be over??
157
@CT
I hope someone from IRS releases his tax-returns and we will know about money laundering machine that he had w/ russians.
7
Poor choice of words in your headline: Trump cannot "honor" anyone or anything--he has no honor, never has had, and never will.
70
They were true heroes as were all the people in New York City and the Pentagon who helped each other. Rudy Giuliani was a real leader on that day and the ones that followed. Whatever happened to him afterwards to make him the idiot he is today?
I fear that 9/11 was the last day the entire country was truly united. Of course I would never want another tragedy, but how sad that that is what it would take to bring us together again?
Today let's remember all the victims and first responders with proudness and warm stories.
15
@Elizabeth,
I'm not sure the Country was "truly united" that day so much as we were all just scared of what just happened and what might happen next. Never bought the "United We Stand" bumper stickers on the back of Hummers as gospel.
The brave people on flight 93 should always be remembered and honored. However, for Trump to commemorate the events of 9/11 in Shanksville PA rather than in NYC or DC seems like a gesture motivated by politics.
85
he knows he's not welcome in DC..and especially in NYC!
Call me cynical but I’m convinced he went to PA because it’s Trump-friendly territory.
136
Of course. He would not be welcome in NY.
21
@Scott M Precisely. And maybe there's a good golf course somewhere near.
13
@Scott M Just imagine the reception he would have received in NY - which of course is the most logical place to go honour the day.
5
I'm relieved that he didn't embarrass the nation again with his usual crass self aggrandizement, which he displayed back in 2001 and so many times since. This day should truly be dedicated to the memories of the many Americans who lost their lives on 9/11 to the forces of evil.
9
Trump and honor. If ever there was an oxymoron, that is truly the all-time one.
38
Nice to see Trump read a teleprompter speech so well this time.
His true thoughts from 9/11/01 are:
Trump's words on 11 September 2001 (from The Independent)
“40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan… And now it’s the tallest.” The day the Twin Towers fell, real estate businessman Mr Trump was speaking to radio station WWOR when he veered off to brag about his nearby 71-storey skyscraper, claiming the title of highest building in Lower Manhattan. Shortly after the attack, Mr Trump claimed $150,000 from the government to cover “rent loss” and “repairs”. The money had originally been set aside for small businesses in the area.
107
Glad 45 was able to read the words someone else wrote for him.
43
Listened to Trump's remarks on the radio. Zero emotion. Read his remarks, with no feeling or expression. Without seeing him, he sounded like he was constantly checking his watch. Pathetic.
But at least he showed up.
29
@PaulB67,
Seriously? You're giving him credit for "showing up"? Did he have somewhere else more important to be that he deserves credit for being there in your eyes?
1
To the Families of those Lost : I wish you peace. We remember your loved ones, and their sacrifice. They are all heroes.
43
The image of Trump doing a double-fist pump and contorting his face is, sadly, as unexpected as it is disturbing.
For a man who tweets incessantly, it is also telling that his messages to the world, on what should be a somber anniversary of this day, are (1) a display of his math capabilities, counting that 17 years have passed and (2) his praise of Giuliani, his own attorney. He was insensitive 17 years ago, when his initial reaction was to inaccurately claim that he now had the tallest building in lower Manhattan, and he remains insensitive today.
134
@William
Agree. I read this article to see how Trump would make this about him as he does everything else.
And I admit to being surprised that it sounds like he said the right words. But the image the fist pump? He didn't "seem less than solemn". He absolutely was less then solemn. Especually considering that the White House or Capital were likely targets of that plane given the other struck the Pentagon.
6
@William And let's not forget that he lied about the extent to which he helped and offered charitable comfort.
1
Please recall that on 9/11/2001 this man bragged that he now had the tallest building in Lower Manhattan. And don’t forget the lie that “Muslims in NJ were cheering the attacks.” Or the biggest lie of all; that he would give loads of cash to help the victims.
That is all...
246
@RodA There were definitely news videos of people cheering in the streets in NJ, because I remember this firsthand. But I don't think it was in the thousands. But to say no one cheered at all is false, I know cause I saw the news video. I think it was in Paterson?
5
@RodA
I have a vague memory of seeing people (presumably Muslim...I remember one older woman was wearing a headscarf) dancing and celebrating. But it was more along the lines of a dozen or so people, not thousands. And I believe the footage was from Palestine, not New Jersey.
3
@MF - Apparently MF you didn't see the photo of Trump who reduced a solemn occasion to a gesture for his supporters. Or maybe that appealed to you too?
1
They were true heroes. So we’re the fire fighters and police. And we don’t know the whole stories of the people who died in the Trade Center buildings - I’m sure there are heroic stories there as well. All remembered today.
55
@Maxie
I cherish your comment Maxie - I thought it was the best of the lot. The world will never know the true number of heroes that day nor the many untold and unknown stories of heroism and self sacrifice. Thank you from my heart.
8