How the 2 Presidential Candidates Will Mark 9/11

Just hours after their much-anticipated presidential debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump are set to overlap once again as they attend events on Wednesday to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, though CNN notes "it's unclear whether the two parties will cross paths." More:

• Harris: The VP will visit all three 9/11 sites with President Biden, starting with Ground Zero on Wednesday morning. The two will then head to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for a ceremony at the Flight 93 memorial, then end their day at the Pentagon for a wreath-laying ceremony. Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will attend one 9/11 event, though his office hasn't said which one.

• Trump: The former president, flanked by running mate JD Vance, is also set to be at Ground Zero on Wednesday morning, and Trump is expected to visit a New York City fire station, per the Hill. He'll then travel to Shanksville as well. It's not clear if a Pentagon visit is also in the works.
• Most recent precedents: Last year, Biden attended a 9/11 ceremony with service members in Alaska. In 2022, the president made a showing at the Pentagon, and in 2021, he and first lady Jill Biden traveled to all three sites.
• Pushback: Not everyone is thrilled about presidential candidates appearing at these events. Remembrance group 9/11 Day says it has asked the two campaigns to halt all political activities on Wednesday, though it says it hasn't heard back from either, per NPR. CNN notes that "while candidates in active campaigning in past years have traditionally avoided politics on the anniversary of the attacks, this campaign cycle is notable for its toxicity, and it remains to be seen how and whether each campaign will engage in politics on Wednesday."
• 9/11 families: The Hill notes Trump "has a complicated history with the attacks," having claimed to be present at Ground Zero in the days following the attacks and that New Jersey Muslims cheered as the towers came down. "A lot of family members are outraged and feel like political props for Trump's campaign," Kerri Kelly, who lost her stepdad on 9/11, tells NPR. Kelly adds they're "doing what we can to stop him from ruining our day and politicizing our grief."

(More 9/11 anniversary stories.)