President Trump and Melania board Air Force One to travel to Shanksville for 9/11

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump held a moment of silence on Air Force One Friday to mark the moment the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers on September 11.

The Trumps stood with staff in the conference room on the presidential plane at 8:46 a.m. – when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower.

Trump stood with his arms clasped. The first lady stood beside him.

‘God bless America,’ White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said when the moment of silence was concluded.

‘God Bless America,’ the president repeated.

The Trumps were in route to Shanksville, Pennsylvania to mark the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

Neither spoke as they boarded Air Force One for the short flight. The president was dressed in a dark suit and tie while the first lady was in a black dress and sunglasses.

This year’s ceremony at Shanksville, the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians on board, will be an abbreviated version due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Neither Trump wore face masks upon their departure from Joint Base Andrews.

While the Trumps are in Pennsylvania, Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Jill Biden spent the morning in New York City for the memorial ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial Plaza, the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump held a moment of silence on Air Force One Friday to mark the moment the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers on September 11

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump held a moment of silence on Air Force One Friday to mark the moment the first plane hit one of the Twin Towers on September 11

The Trumps stood with staff in the conference room on the presidential plane at 8:46 a.m. – when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower. Trump stood with his arms clasped

White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said when the moment of silence was concluded. ‘God Bless America,’ the president repeated

The Trumps stood with staff in the conference room on the presidential plane at 8:46 a.m. – when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower. Trump stood with his arms clasped. The first lady stood beside him. ‘God bless America,’ White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said when the moment of silence was concluded. ‘God Bless America,’ the president repeated

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump set off for Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning to mark the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump set off for Shanksville, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning to mark the 19th anniversary of the September 11th attacks

This year’s ceremony at Shanksville, the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians on board, will be an abbreviated version due to the coronavirus pandemic

This year’s ceremony at Shanksville, the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians on board, will be an abbreviated version due to the coronavirus pandemic

Neither spoke as they boarded Air Force One for the short flight. The president was dressed in a dark suit and tie while the first lady was in a black dress and sunglasses

Neither spoke as they boarded Air Force One for the short flight. The president was dressed in a dark suit and tie while the first lady was in a black dress and sunglasses

While they are in Pennsylvania, Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Jill Biden (pictured) spent the morning in New York City for the memorial ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial Plaza, the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell

While they are in Pennsylvania, Democratic nominee Joe Biden and Jill Biden (pictured) spent the morning in New York City for the memorial ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial Plaza, the site where the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell

From left, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and Vice President Mike Pence stand during the national anthem at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in New York

From left, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, and Vice President Mike Pence stand during the national anthem at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, in New York

There will be no keynote speaker nor musical talent. The name of each passenger and crew member will be read aloud with the ringing of the Bells of Remembrance. This moment will observe the exact time Flight 93 crashed at 10:03 a.m

There will be no keynote speaker nor musical talent. The name of each passenger and crew member will be read aloud with the ringing of the Bells of Remembrance. This moment will observe the exact time Flight 93 crashed at 10:03 a.m

A National Park Service ranger rehearses the wreath laying ceremony that President Donald Trump will participate in during a memorial service at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville on Friday

A National Park Service ranger rehearses the wreath laying ceremony that President Donald Trump will participate in during a memorial service at the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville on Friday 

The Bidens wore face masks for the event.

Biden told reporters traveling with him it was a ‘solemn day.’

‘I’m not going to talk about anything other than 9/11. We took all our advertising down. It’s a solemn day. That’s how we’re going to keep it,’ he said.

Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence were also in New York for the ceremony there. 

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg stood between the two couples during the ceremony, where bagpipes played and a bell rang at 8:46 am to mark the moment American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower.

The Bidens will travel to Shanksville in the afternoon to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial.

The Trumps will be gone by then – meaning the two presidential nominees will miss one another.

But the president and first lady will stay for the ceremony. The Trumps marked 9/11 in Shanksville in 2018 and spent the 2017 and 2019 anniversaries at the Pentagon.

The usual 90 minute ceremony in Shanksville will be reduced to a to a 20 minute ‘Moment of Remembrance,’ the National Park Service said. The park service arranges the memorial and cares for the area.

The president and first lady will stay for the ceremony. The Trumps marked 9/11 in Shanksville in 2018 and spent the 2017 and 2019 anniversaries at the Pentagon

The president and first lady will stay for the ceremony. The Trumps marked 9/11 in Shanksville in 2018 and spent the 2017 and 2019 anniversaries at the Pentagon

The usual 90 minute ceremony in Shanksville will be reduced to a to a 20 minute 'Moment of Remembrance,' the National Park Service said. The park service arranges the memorial and cares for the area

The usual 90 minute ceremony in Shanksville will be reduced to a to a 20 minute ‘Moment of Remembrance,’ the National Park Service said. The park service arranges the memorial and cares for the area

Just outside Shanksville is the 2,200-acre Flight 93 National Memorial Park, which marks the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians and four al-Qaeda hijackers on board

Just outside Shanksville is the 2,200-acre Flight 93 National Memorial Park, which marks the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians and four al-Qaeda hijackers on board

Neither Trump wore face masks upon their departure from Joint Base Andrews

Neither Trump wore face masks upon their departure from Joint Base Andrews

Just outside Shanksville is the 2,200-acre Flight 93 National Memorial Park, which marks the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians and four al-Qaeda hijackers on board

Just outside Shanksville is the 2,200-acre Flight 93 National Memorial Park, which marks the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians and four al-Qaeda hijackers on board

The hijackers had intended to fly the plane to Washington, D.C. but when the passengers on board, after learning from family members via airphone of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon, revolted and fought for control of the plane, causing it to crash

The hijackers had intended to fly the plane to Washington, D.C. but when the passengers on board, after learning from family members via airphone of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon, revolted and fought for control of the plane, causing it to crash

There will be no keynote speaker nor musical talent. The name of each passenger and crew member will be read aloud with the ringing of the Bells of Remembrance. This moment will observe the exact time Flight 93 crashed at 10:03 a.m.

Just outside Shanksville is the 2,200-acre Flight 93 National Memorial Park, which marks the spot where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field on September 11, 2001, killing all 40 civilians and four al-Qaeda hijackers on board.

The hijackers had intended to fly the plane to Washington, D.C. but when the passengers on board, after learning from family members via airphone of the earlier attacks on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon, revolted and fought for control of the plane, causing it to crash.

It was the only one of the four aircraft hijacked that day that never reached its intended target – believed to be either the White House or the U.S. Capitol building. Nearly 3,000 people died in the attack.

The Flight 93 National Memorial is built around the crash site and protects the area of impact, known as the ‘Sacred Ground’, which remains accessible only to family members of the passengers and crew.

source: dailymail.co.uk