DeSantis, Harris commemorate 9/11 anniversary in New York

Prominent Republicans and Democrats convened in New York City on Monday to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Politicians including Vice President Harris, Florida governor and 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) commemorated the event at ground zero in a rare bipartisan display of unity. 

Others spotted in the crowd included New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D), Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (D). 

Harris, DeSantis and others also released statements throughout the day marking the event, in which close to 3,000 people lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in New York City, at the Pentagon and in Shanksville, Pa.

“We will never forget the 2,977 lives lost twenty-two years ago today at Ground Zero, Shanksville, and the Pentagon. We remain indebted to the heroic first responders, and our hearts are with the family members and friends who lost loved ones,” Harris wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“Today, Casey and I had the honor of joining with families who still bear the scars of the 9/11 terror attacks to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of that dark day. We heard their heart-wrenching stories, the cherished memories of those they lost, and their strong commitment to never forgetting what happened on this hallowed ground twenty-two years ago,” DeSantis wrote on his campaign website. 

The Florida governor also called on the Biden administration to pledge to support the Ensuring Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and declassify remaining documents relating to the Sept. 11 attacks.

“Any plea deal allowing the accused to avoid the harshest penalties and transparency is unconscionable given the loss inflicted by their terrorist acts. While the Biden Administration has allegedly rejected a considered plea deal over the near-term, pressure must remain so that any way forward includes public answers and maximum lawful punishment,” he said.

Ted Goodman, a political adviser to Giuliani, in a statement said that the former New York City mayor “reassured an anxious country and helped us find our way through unimaginable tragedy” and that his “leadership on September 11th, 2001 saved lives and comforted the entire nation.”