Joe Biden will become the first sitting U.S. president to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks without visiting any of the official memorials or attack sites.
According to a press release from the White House, Biden will instead stop over in Alaska on his return trip from Vietnam, where he will join in memorial services there.
“On Monday, September 11th, the President, Vice President, First Lady, and Second Gentleman will all mark the 22nd anniversary of the terror attacks on September 11th, 2001. The President will travel to Alaska to participate in a memorial ceremony with members of the military and their families,” the release stated.
“The Vice President and the Second Gentleman will participate in a commemoration ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City. The First Lady will lay a wreath at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial to honor the lives lost on September 11th,” it continued.
Critics were quick to wonder about the timing, asking why Biden would not make it a point to be at the National Memorial in New York, the Pentagon, or the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
“The White House announced that Pres. Biden will commemorate 9/11 at a military base in Alaska with service members and their families. This is the first time that a sitting president WON’T attend any of the observances in New York City, Pennsylvania, or Virginia,” OANN’s Stephanie Myers said.
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The White House announced that Pres. Biden will commemorate 9/11 at a military base in Alaska with service members and their families.
This is the first time that a sitting president WON'T attend any of the observances in New York City, Pennsylvania, or Virginia.
— Stephanie Myers (@_StephanieMyers) August 29, 2023
While a number suggested that Biden had opted for Alaska because there was likely to be less press coverage on the ground — and therefore fewer chances for the president to appear on camera saying something foolish or tone-deaf – others speculated there were other stories floating around the news cycle on which the White House was trying to avoid scrutiny.
Some mentioned the ongoing illegal immigration crisis — and the battle between New York City, New York State, and the federal government over who should bear the brunt of the responsibility. Others noted that the Biden administration was working on a potential deal that would help those convicted of masterminding the 9/11 attacks to avoid the death penalty — a deal that had angered a number of those impacted directly by the terror attacks.