President Donald Trump’s administration says it's looking at ways the federal government can assume operation of the 9/11 memorial in New York City.

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration said Friday that it is exploring whether the federal government can take control of the 9/11 memorial and museum in New York City.

The site in lower Manhattan, where the World Trade Center’s twin towers were destroyed by hijacked jetliners on Sept. 11, 2001, features two memorial pools ringed by waterfalls and parapets with the names of the dead, and an underground museum. Since opening to the public in 2014, the memorial plaza and museum have been run by a public charity, now chaired by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a frequent Trump critic.

The White House confirmed the administration has had “preliminary exploratory discussions” about the idea, but declined to elaborate. The office noted the Republican pledged during his campaign last year to make the site a national monument, protected and maintained by the federal government.

But officials at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum say the federal government, under current laws, can’t unilaterally take over the site, which is located on land owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

  • 3abas@lemmy.world
    1122·
    2 days ago

    The US and Israel commit daily 9/11s in Gaza/Lebanon/Yemen/Iran/etc.

    You should be upset about 9/11, you should understand the motivations of those who perpetrated it, you should be upset about the root cause, and you should be disgusted that your country continues to level civilian buildings while casually celebrating it on group chat.

    You should get over the idea that 9/11 was so uniquely evil, it’s the one time the American empire felt a fraction of the evil it puts out into the world.

    Would you have been this upset if Biden suggested the federal government is taking the responsibility to fund the memorial? Would you have opposed ensuring the long term maintenance of it and eliminating the risk of financial issues in the long term?

    Have you heard their proposal, or you’re rejecting it only because it’s GOP? You know a lot of republicans live in NY and a lot of them died on 9/11, right? You know nearly 3.5 million New Yorkers voted for Trump, right?

    If there’s one thing the federal government knows how to fund and maintain, it’s war propaganda monuments. Just look at DC, and look at how actual veterans are left to rot homeless and broke while the monuments to honor them are ludicrously grand and luxurious.

    • Mike D@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      21 hours ago

      i just realized I am logged into different instances on my phone and desktop.

      The US and Israel commit daily 9/11s in Gaza/Lebanon/Yemen/Iran/etc.

      I agree and find this upsetting as well.

      You should be upset about 9/11, you should understand the motivations of those who perpetrated it, you should be upset about the root cause, and you should be disgusted that your country continues to level civilian buildings while casually celebrating it on group chat.

      I understand the motivations. I am disgusted by US indiscriminate killing in foreign countries.

      You should get over the idea that 9/11 was so uniquely evil, it’s the one time the American empire felt a fraction of the evil it puts out into the world.

      Never said 9/11 was unique. I said 9/11 sticks in my head because it was one of the few times “I was scared for my life.” I was scared and could do nothing which is the desired effect of a terrorist act.

      Would you have been this upset if Biden suggested the federal government is taking the responsibility to fund the memorial? Would you have opposed ensuring the long term maintenance of it and eliminating the risk of financial issues in the long term?

      No

      Have you heard their proposal, or you’re rejecting it only because it’s GOP? You know a lot of republicans live in NY and a lot of them died on 9/11, right? You know nearly 3.5 million New Yorkers voted for Trump, right?

      I have not heard the proposal but based upon things that have happened during Trump’s second term the proposal will not match reality. Also, I over-generalized NYC’s hatred of Trump. I’m sure he did well in Staten Island.

      If there’s one thing the federal government knows how to fund and maintain, it’s war propaganda monuments. Just look at DC, and look at how actual veterans are left to rot homeless and broke while the monuments to honor them are ludicrously grand and luxurious

      Agree

    • piecat@lemmy.world
      1·
      20 hours ago

      Why is it necessary? I’ve been to the memorial and museum a few times in the past year. They’re doing a fantastic job. Has anybody involved asked for this??

      • 3abas@lemmy.world
        77·
        1 day ago

        I don’t, that’s not what I was saying.

        I’m saying the obsession with 9/11 as a special evil event is contrary to reality where the US, under Trump, under Biden, under Obama, under Bush, under Clinton, etc is a terrorist state that downs civilian buildings casually.

        • ImADifferentBird@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
          72·
          1 day ago

          That’s not the part I’m arguing with you about. I mostly agree with you there.

          I’m arguing with you about this:

          Would you have been this upset if Biden suggested the federal government is taking the responsibility to fund the memorial? Would you have opposed ensuring the long term maintenance of it and eliminating the risk of financial issues in the long term?

          Have you heard their proposal, or you’re rejecting it only because it’s GOP? You know a lot of republicans live in NY and a lot of them died on 9/11, right? You know nearly 3.5 million New Yorkers voted for Trump, right?

          I don’t need to hear the specifics of any proposal here to be against it. Trump is a lying conman, and I wouldn’t believe anything coming out of his or any of his administration’s mouths anyway. I’ve seen what he does when given control, and that’s enough.

          • 3abas@lemmy.world
            35·
            1 day ago

            If you are with the first part, you’d agree with the implied second part: it should be a simple memorial and should focus on the victims not on empire propaganda. This is what the museum has to say:

            The terrorists did not have the capacity to destroy the United States militarily, so they set their sights on symbolic targets instead. The Twin Towers, as the centerpieces of the World Trade Center, symbolized globalization and America’s economic power and prosperity.

            The Pentagon, as the headquarters for the U.S. Department of Defense, serves as a symbol of American military power. It is thought that Flight 93 was headed to the Capitol building, the center of American legislative government.

            Al-Qaeda hoped that, by attacking these symbols of American power, they would promote widespread fear throughout the country and severely weaken the United States’ standing in the world community, ultimately supporting their political and religious goals in the Middle East and Muslim world.

            That’s a very disgusting right wing take that ignores the actual motivations for the attacks, and denies the visitors the chance to reflect on what their country continues to support: worldwide terror.

            It’s not worth saving in its current state.

              • 3abas@lemmy.world
                22·
                18 hours ago

                Jesus Christ.

                It’s already on his side, it’s already “islamists hate us because of our freedom” level, no I don’t think it’ll get worse… What do you think he’ll do to it?