JD Vance Sparks Outrage After Saying US Is About to 'Celebrate' 25th Anniversary of 9/11

A single word from Vice President JD Vance sparked a backlash on X after he appeared to describe the upcoming 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks as something to 'celebrate.'

The remark came just days before the nation marks 25 years since nearly 3,000 people died in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, turning what was meant to be a solemn preview of the anniversary into an online controversy.

Why 'Celebrate' Was the Wrong Word

Vance stumbled while discussing plans for this year's commemoration, initially saying, 'We are about to celebrate the 25th year' — before catching the error mid-sentence and correcting it to 'commemorate.'

The Vice President went on to state that the nation will remember the terrorist attacks while celebrating the bravery of the first responders who answered the call, adding that the devastation could have been far worse, according to Vance's remarks.

The clip captured not only the stumble but also the immediate recovery, yet the initial word choice had already been recorded and shared.

However, the quick correction did little to stop the clip — which journalist Aaron Rupar and others shared on X — from spreading rapidly. Critics argued that the initial slip, however brief, was a striking choice of words for a high-ranking official discussing a national tragedy that claimed thousands of lives.

Social Media Reacts Over Word Choice

Reaction on X was swift and largely unforgiving. Several users expressed disbelief that a sitting vice president would phrase the moment so poorly, with one noting that 'words matter.'

Others, including those who lost family and colleagues on that tragic day, argued that the anniversary should be marked exclusively with mourning — not language resembling celebration.

Many stressed that word choice carries particular weight for public officials, insisting the correct terms are commemorate, remember or honour, particularly when addressing such a profound national loss.

Some defended Vance, pointing out that he corrected himself mid-sentence and had clearly intended to say 'commemorate' all along. A handful of users suggested the backlash was overblown given the immediate correction, arguing that the Vice President's broader message about honouring first responders deserved more attention.

9/11: The Attack That Changed America

On the morning of September 11, 2001, nineteen al-Qaeda hijackers seized control of four commercial airliners in a coordinated assault on the United States.

Two aircraft struck the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, and both buildings collapsed within just over an hour. A third plane struck the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while a fourth crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers fought to retake control from the hijackers.

In total, 2,977 victims were killed across the four attack sites, alongside thousands more injured. The attacks remain the deadliest on American soil, reshaping national security policy for a generation.

Institutions including the National September 11 Memorial & Museum and the Miller Center at the University of Virginia continue to document the day in detail, while artifacts such as recovered steel beams from the World Trade Center serve as lasting reminders of the scale of the destruction.

Vance is scheduled to attend this year's ceremony at Ground Zero in New York representing the administration, while President Trump plans to mark the anniversary at the Pentagon.