President Joe Biden’s decision not to visit any of the 9/11 attack sites on the 22nd anniversary of the tragedy has sparked criticism from some families of the victims. Traditionally, U.S. presidents have marked the day by visiting one of the attack sites or the White House. However, President Biden, who was returning from a trip to India and Vietnam, opted to speak at a ceremony in Anchorage, Alaska, rather than attend events at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Donald Arias, who lost his brother during the attacks, expressed his preference for Biden to stay away from the sites and avoid sharing personal anecdotes. He criticized the president for trying to relate to the 9/11 families, citing a previous incident where Biden mentioned a kitchen fire.
Terry Strada, who lost her husband in the World Trade Center, criticized Biden’s decision, stating that it contradicted the pledge to “never forget” and expressed disappointment in the president’s absence at the memorial events.
Matt Bocchi, the son of a 9/11 victim, lamented the departure from tradition and suggested that it sent a message that Americans were forgetting the significance of the day.
The 9/11 attacks, orchestrated by al-Qaeda terrorists, resulted in the deaths of 2,977 victims and had a profound impact on U.S. national security and foreign policy.
President Biden’s choice to speak in Alaska while Vice President Kamala Harris attended events in New York City has prompted mixed reactions from the families of 9/11 victims and raised questions about the commemoration of this significant day.