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.
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.
JD Vance says we're about to "celebrate the 25th year" of 9/11 pic.twitter.com/QdvqnlsgNY
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.
There is nothing to “celebrate” about 25 years since 9/11.My husband was murdered that day.We commemorate. We mourn. We remember.The Vice President should know the difference.
I watched 110 of my coworkers die that day but sure, let’s have a party.
Surely he meant to say commemorate, not celebrate. 😳
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.
