Presidential nominees Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Sunday marked the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, visiting Ground Zero in Manhattan.
{mosads}Trump visited Ground Zero early Sunday morning, where he spoke to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R), New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and New York Rep. Peter King (R).
“Fifteen years ago, America suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history. Thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and innocent American children were murdered by radical Islamic terrorists,” Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, said in a statement.
“Today, we mourn for all the lives lost. We mourn for all the children who had to grow up without a mom or dad, and for all the parents who’ve had to struggle on without their children,” he said.
“We will never forget.”
Clinton, the Democratic nominee, also visited Ground Zero early Sunday and asked the nation to honor the “lives and tremendous spirit of the victims and responders.”
Interim Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Donna Brazile also called on Americans to “recommit ourselves to preserving and protecting the ideals that have made our nation great” on the 9/11 anniversary.
“Those ideals were also under attack that Tuesday morning. The terrorists wanted to cause more than death and destruction – they hoped to spread fear and division, and to shake the very foundation of our free society,” she said in a statement.
“But our resolve never wavered. No act of terror can break the steadfast bonds of our union. Hope conquers fear. And the hope and love that Americans of every race, creed, color and religion, carry in our hearts for our neighbors and our nation will always triumph. Our United States of America endures.”
President Obama observed a moment of silence at the White House early Sunday. He’ll attend a wreath-laying ceremony and speak later in the morning at the Pentagon’s 9/11 memorial.
— This report was updated at 8:51 a.m.