Ah yes, the annual pilgrimage to Ground Zero — where a bipartisan group of lawmakers, bless their suddenly rediscovered patriotism, descends upon lower Manhattan to honor the memory of 9/11. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with remembering one of the most tragic days in American history — in fact, we should — it’s hard not to notice the familiar political theater that always seems to tag along for the ride.
On the 24th anniversary of 9/11, we honor the lives lost, the heroes who emerged, and the resilience of the American spirit.
America will never forget. pic.twitter.com/FqV1MZNuG8
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 11, 2025
This year, it’s Rep. Andrew Garbarino, Republican from New York and chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, who’s leading the charge. Alongside a handful of colleagues — some likely more interested in camera time than counterterrorism — they’ll lay flowers, take the staff-led tour, and offer the standard soundbites about “never forgetting” and staying “vigilant in the face of growing threats.”
Now look — Garbarino’s not wrong. He’s absolutely right to point out that New York remains in terrorism’s crosshairs, and yes, the Department of Homeland Security was born out of the rubble of 9/11. But here’s the thing: It’s not just foreign terrorists we have to worry about anymore. It’s also the folks letting those potential threats stroll right through our southern border because “compassion” apparently now trumps “common sense.”
Let’s not kid ourselves — we’re living in a world where we can barely vet asylum seekers, where cartel activity is spilling over into our cities, and where an administration more focused on pronouns and climate pledges is somehow expected to prioritize national security? It’s rich.
So yes, by all means, visit Ground Zero. Honor the fallen. Lay the flowers. But maybe let’s skip the press conferences unless we’re also going to have an honest conversation about the vulnerabilities we’ve created — not by accident, but by design. Because “Never Forget” starts to lose its punch when our policies look like we already have.
And speaking of threats, let’s not overlook the DOJ’s own report from 2023 — New York City had the highest number of attempted or actual terror incidents in the entire country. That’s not just a statistic; that’s a flashing red warning sign. Yet how often do we hear about it? Not much — unless it’s convenient for a hearing or a funding request. For a government supposedly built to prevent another 9/11, they sure seem awfully quiet when the threats don’t fit the preferred narrative.
President Trump looks like he’s carrying the weight of an entire nation. Clearly the pain and grief of yesterday‘s assassination of Charlie Kirk is compounding the gravity of the 9/11 Memorial services. pic.twitter.com/bDq2RlFhZT
— Daniel Cohen (@DanielCohenTV) September 11, 2025
Remembering 9/11 is sacred. It should be above politics. But when the same people who gut law enforcement budgets and downplay threats from abroad suddenly start talking about national security — yeah, we’re allowed to raise an eyebrow or two.
September 11, 2001, marked one of our nation’s darkest days. Few responded as bravely as New York City’s first responders.
That day, the @FDNY lost 343, @PANYNJ lost 37, NYPD lost 23, and many others continue to suffer from illnesses related to 9/11.
We will #NeverForget. pic.twitter.com/mHljkmYfGZ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) September 11, 2025
So yes, hats off to Garbarino for showing up and saying what needs to be said. But let’s also hope that after the flowers are laid and the speeches are done, some real action follows. Because commemoration without confrontation of the truth? That’s just pageantry.
And America’s had enough of that.
