Trump, the White House’s current occupant, reversed plans to be there partially because politicians are barred from giving speeches, the newspaper had previously reported. That invited vitriol from a leader who has a knack for attacking female reporters.

Trump called Maggie Haberman, one of the Times’ bylined authors on his expected absence, “Maggot,” “unattractive,” a “fake reporter,” a “scammer” and a “stalker.”

Trump said he will appear at the Pentagon instead, where he will speak as he did last year, NBC reported.

The Times on Tuesday emphasized that the White House “did not challenge” the article about Trump’s change of heart “when approached for comment.” But a day later, Trump and spokesperson Steven Cheung blasted the reporting as “fake news.”

Trump has attended anniversary memorials at all three crash sites of the jets hijacked by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001 ― New York City, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, pictured at the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in June 2026, are the presidential foursome that will attend the Sept. 11 ceremony in New York City. Donald Trump will not.

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