Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Exchange Handshake at 9/11 Anniversary Event

On Wednesday morning, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump shook hands during the 9/11 anniversary ceremony in downtown Manhattan. The gesture was notable as it occurred in the context of the solemn commemoration of the tragic events that took place on September 11, 2001. This handshake marked a moment of unity on a day dedicated to remembering the lives lost and the heroism displayed by countless individuals.

A Notable Gesture

As the ceremony unfolded, Kamala Harris stood between New York Senator Chuck Schumer and President Joe Biden. At one point, she reached over President Biden to greet Donald Trump, who was standing next to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It appeared that Bloomberg prompted Harris to make the gesture. This happened less than 12 hours after Harris and Trump had met for the first time at a presidential debate in Philadelphia, hosted by ABC News. Their handshake at that debate ended an eight-year period where such gestures were notably absent from the debate stage. Notably, there are no formal rules that require a handshake before or after presidential debates.

The 9/11 anniversary ceremonies on Wednesday took place at Ground Zero in New York City, with additional ceremonies held in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon. Both the President and the Vice President attended the events to honor the memory of those who lost their lives in the attacks. After the ceremony at Ground Zero, Trump planned to visit Shanksville as well.

In an official statement, President Biden reflected on the impact of the events from 23 years ago. He emphasized that the terrorists who carried out the attacks believed they could break the nation’s resolve and spirit, but they were wrong. “In the darkest of hours, we found light. And in the face of fear, we came together,” Biden remarked, noting that the American people united to defend the country and help one another. He also acknowledged the end of the country’s longest war but reaffirmed the ongoing commitment to preventing future attacks on U.S. soil.

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