President Trump is again sparring with the New York Times, this time over how he’ll mark the upcoming Sept. 11 anniversary. The Times reported that the president wanted to speak at the annual ceremony at the World Trade Center site on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, but that organizers declined. Since 2012, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum has barred political speeches at the event. The paper said Trump will instead attend a Pentagon memorial, while Vice President JD Vance is now set to represent the administration in New York. Trump himself has confirmed his plans: The AP notes that when asked by reporters on Friday why he won’t be in New York on 9/11, the president replied: “Because I’m going to the Pentagon.”
On Truth Social, Trump also deemed the Times story of why he ducked out of New York’s ceremony “Corrupt News,” arguing that “no one ever speaks” at what he described as a “solemn ceremony” and adding that he’d “love not to speak, because I’m speaking all the time,” per the Hill. He also attacked Times reporter Maggie Haberman personally, labeling her a “Fake Reporter” and “a stalker.” A Times spokesperson said the article was based on multiple sources familiar with planning for the ceremony and that the White House didn’t dispute their information when asked for comment, adding that the outlet remains confident in its reporting.