Vice President Harris and former President Trump stood just feet apart Wednesday in New York City, hours after they faced off on the debate stage , to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The two shook hands when they first arrived at the memorial and appeared to speak for a few seconds. Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg stood in the middle and facilitated the handshake, tapping Harris, who was speaking with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), while Trump looked over.
Harris and President Biden stood to one side of Bloomberg, with Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on his other side. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an ex-attorney to Trump, stood next to Vance.
Harris then spoke more with Schumer, Biden, and others around her while Trump mostly talked with Vance. At one point, Harris, Biden, Schumer, Sen. Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) were all huddled together talking.
A bell rang when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the World Trade Center’s North Tower at 8:46 a.m. EDT. The president and vice president bowed their heads during the moment of silence.
Another bell rang at 9:03 a.m., when United Airlines Flight 175 struck the World Trade Center’s South Tower. Trump looked around at the time, Harris had her eyes closed and Biden kept his head down.
At 9:37 a.m., another bell rang when American Airlines 77 struck the Pentagon. Harris looked down at the time, Biden and Trump looked ahead. The group remained in the same formation throughout the ceremony.
Harris and Biden turned to each other to share a few comments at moments throughout the ceremony. Trump and Vance did the same. The former president has also chatted briefly with his son Donald Trump Jr., who was standing behind him, and Giuliani.
Biden and Harris both left the ceremony at 9:45 a.m. They were expected to visit the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pa., later in the day.
Attendees held up photographs of their loved ones at the memorial and police officers stood holding an American flag.
The names of those killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, were read by victims’ family members while Harris, Trump, Biden, Vance and the others looked on.
The first, and maybe only , debate between Harris and Trump was held in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, and the two faced off on issues from reproductive rights, the economy, race and immigration. Harris delivered a sharp performance and baited Trump at their first meeting.
The event in New York on Wednesday morning marked their second face-to-face interaction.
Updated at 10:08 a.m. EDT
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