Trump pays tribute to 9/11 victims at Ellipse, says nation will 'never forget'

With the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaching, President Donald Trump took part in a memorial ceremony on the Ellipse in Washington on Tuesday, paying tribute to the victims and first responders of 2001 and asserting that the nation will "never forget."

The event, organized by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, centered on a massive steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The nearly 17,000-pound, 21-foot section of metal has been displayed across the country as part of the "Steel Across America" tour. On Friday, the beam is scheduled to travel through New York in a formal procession, retracing the final route of firefighter Stephen Siller.

Speaking at the ceremony just outside the White House, Trump reflected on the significance of the artifact. "This battered piece of steel here today on the Ellipse is a reminder that America is blessed with a strength no fire can consume, no evil can conquer and no terror can destroy," he said.

The President described the attacks of September 11, 2001, as one of the rare moments in history that "divide time into really what came before" and after. His remarks also touched on political themes, warning against what he termed a "communistic way," a phrase he has used in criticism of Democrats.

Tuesday's event marks the beginning of a week of commemorations leading up to Friday's anniversary. Trump is also scheduled to attend a ceremony at the Pentagon later in the week.