Since the 9/11/01 terrorist attack, it’s been a tradition that the President of the United States visits New York City. Specifically, the site of two 110-story World Trade Center Towers, which were attacked by radical Islamic terrorists first, using planes as weapons.
The World Trade Center is where the most loss of life occurred, with 2,753 killed, including two whose remains were identified just three days ago, making them “the 1,648th and 1,649th victims whose remains have been identified since 2001.”
Many people are still affected by the memory of 9/11, but most especially those who survived and their families. Over the years, there have been increasing concerns that 9/11 would be forgotten one day, viewed as another day, or treated as a footnote to America’s past by future leaders.
Joe Biden, judging by his annual visits to New York City in the first two years after his election as president, hasn’t forgotten about 9/11.
The actions and statements of members of his administration in the last few days have caused some confusion and anger, particularly the response given by an unnamed White House official on Monday, who according to Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy gave a callous answer when asked why Biden would not be in NYC on such a somber occasion.
Doocy said, “The analogy I was given is that U.S. presidents are not going to Hawaii 22 years after Pearl Harbor.”
Watch:
.@pdoocy asked the White House why POTUS is not in NYC on 9/11.
DOOCY: “The analogy that I was given is that 22 years after Pearl Harbor, U.S. Presidents were not still going to visit Hawaii.”
Wow… pic.twitter.com/KcfD7lf3sz
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 11, 2023
Kamala Harris was sent to Biden’s stead. Jill Biden, First Lady, was at the Pentagon to commemorate their memory, while Doug Emhoff, Second Gentleman, was in Shanksville for his.
Biden is expected to be in Alaska to give a speech on the call to military service felt by many after 9/11. MSNBC’s portrayal of the White House’s efforts to commemorate 9/11 was a soaring one.
MSNBC says the excuse why Joe Biden is not in New York, D.C., or Pennsylvania to commemorate 9/11, but instead giving a speech on a military base in Alaska, is to highlight those who joined the military after 9/11. pic.twitter.com/rIzDb8toqm
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) September 11, 2023
Biden’s salute to service in Alaska, as well as the explanation by that White House official, will not go down well with those who already worry that this day may one day be seen as a mere afterthought.
Biden has also been widely criticized for his response to the Maui Fires. He first went on vacation, then responded with an insensitive, “no comment,” when asked about the increasing death toll. Then he briefly visited Hawaii, making jokes about his Corvette, before returning to his holiday.
Leaders are those who take the lead. Wannabe leaders, on the other hand, often go on vacations and leave heavy lifting to others. Biden’s faithful may be happy with this, but come Election Day, he might find out that his failure to take the lead in these and other matters was too much for others.
