Trump Attacks NYT Reporter Over 9/11 Ceremony Report

President Donald Trump issued a sharp personal attack on New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman on Friday, August 28, 2026, denying a report that he plans to skip the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks at Ground Zero in New York City because he would not be permitted to deliver a speech. The dispute centers on a story published by the Times on Thursday, August 27, which cited unnamed sources with knowledge of the planning.

The Times report stated that Trump was expected to attend a ceremony at the Pentagon on September 11, 2026, instead of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in Manhattan. According to the newspaper, Trump’s team had previously indicated his attendance in New York and made advance visits, but his desire to speak was relayed to organizers. The report noted that politicians have been barred from delivering remarks at the Ground Zero ceremony since 2012 to maintain a nonpartisan focus on victims and their families. The Times also reported that Vice President JD Vance would represent the administration at the New York event and that travel logistics, with Trump scheduled to depart for Ireland the following day, were a factor.