President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris put aside their political differences to pay tribute to each other and shook hands.
Earlier, Harris and Trump faced off in a heated presidential debate moderated by ABC, clashing over key issues such as immigration, abortion rights and foreign policy. Both candidates wanted to Elections on November 5
As the names of the victims were read, some relatives used the platform to send political messages. Allison Walsh-DiMarzio, the daughter of victim Barbara P. Walsh, directly challenged Trump and Harris, saying, “We are begging for your help, but you are ignoring us.” She called on them to question Saudi Arabia about official involvement in the attacks, since most of the 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens.
Joanne Barbara, the widow of Deputy Fire Chief Gerard A. Barbara, spoke out against a now-revoked plea deal with alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants, stressing that “after 23 years, the families deserve justice and accountability.”
Biden, Harris and Trump also paid their respects to the hijacked at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked planes crashed after passengers and crew tried to storm the cockpit. The attacks left 2,977 dead and countless grieving families and survivors behind. They changed U.S. foreign policy, domestic security practices and the mindset of many Americans who had previously felt impervious to foreign extremists.
Events are being held in communities across the country to mark the anniversary, and many Americans are participating in volunteer work as part of the National Day of Remembrance. While some victims’ families appreciate the presence of politicians at the ceremonies, others say the focus should remain on remembering their loved ones and finding solutions for peace, rather than scoring political points.
