WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump hosted first responders and officials from the FDNY at the White House on Tuesday to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The ceremony included the posthumous presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Remy Crowther and announcements regarding new honors for fallen service members.

A steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center was displayed on the White House Ellipse during the event. The Tunnel to Towers Foundation organized the transport of the steel beam as part of its 'Steel Across America' tour.

Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Remy Crowther, accepting it on behalf of his mother Alison and sister Paige. Crowther was a volunteer firefighter and equity trader who died in the South Tower after helping guide survivors to safety.

During the remarks, Trump described the United States Steel Building as creaking and stated that two firefighters lifted him and carried him to safety during his visit to Ground Zero. He also claimed he deployed over 100 construction workers to help with the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

Trump acknowledged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose firm Cantor Fitzgerald lost 658 employees in the North Tower. The President compared the threat officers faced during 9/11 to the threat of communism and argued for his war with Iran. Ron Filipkowski described Trump's story about firefighters as an instance of 'stolen valor' and stated Trump created a fictitious event featuring himself as the hero.

Trump's foundation gave $100,000 to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum more than 15 years after the attacks. Trump is scheduled to mark the September 11 anniversary at the Pentagon, while Vice President JD Vance will attend the remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan.

Why It Matters

The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the attacks that killed 343 members of the FDNY, 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department, and 23 members of the NYPD. White House Spokesperson Olivia Wales stated that the President would stand with first responders to renew the vow to never forget the September 11 attacks.

Timeline

In 2001, Trump's business empire received $150,000 from a post-9/11 recovery program, with the application stating the request was for compensation for lost rent, cleanup, and repairs. Also in 2001, Trump pledged to donate $10,000 to a recovery fund, which the city comptroller’s office found was never delivered. On September 11, 2001, Welles Crowther was a volunteer firefighter and equity trader who died in the South Tower after helping guide survivors to safety. On that same day, 343 members of the FDNY, 37 members of the Port Authority Police Department, and 23 members of the NYPD died in the September 11 attacks.

In 2019, Richard Alles, a New York City Fire Department battalion chief present on September 11, stated he had no knowledge of Trump sending a crew or being at Ground Zero. On September 9, 2026, Trump stated that Welles Crowther saved many people before losing his own life in the South Tower lobby when the building came down.

What's New

Further details indicated that Trump compared the threat officers faced during 9/11 to the threat of communism and argued for his war with Iran. A steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center was displayed on the White House Ellipse during the ceremony.

President Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Welles Remy Crowther, accepting it on behalf of his mother Alison and sister Paige.