NEW YORK — In 2001, George W. Bush presided over a country united in grief. Twenty years later, Bush says, those days seems distant.

In a remarkable speech Saturday in Shanksville, Pa., Bush lamented the current state of politics and ripped violent extremists, seemingly making reference to the January 6th assault on the Capitol.

“We have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country can come not only across borders, but from violence that gathers within,” he said. “There is little cultural overlap between violent extremists abroad and violent extremists at home. But in their disdain for pluralism, in their disregard for human life, in their determination to defile national symbols, they are children of the same foul spirit. And it is our continuing duty to confront them.”

What You Need To Know

  • Former President Bush rebuked domestic extremists, alluding to those who stormed the Capitol, in a speech in Shanksville, Pa.

  • Former President Trump released a video blasting President Biden’s handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

  • Trump also made unannounced visits to a firehouse and police precinct in Manhattan

  • Biden attended the World Trade Center ceremony along with former Presidents Obama and Clinton

During a later appearance in Shanksville, President Joe Biden, addressing reporters, said: “I thought that President Bush made a really good speech today — genuinely good speech about who we are.”

Biden began his day in Lower Manhattan, attending the World Trade Center ceremony along with former Presidents Obama and Clinton. As usual, a host of other top elected officials were also on hand, including both leaders of Congress.

Absent from the scene was former President Donald Trump. Instead, Trump released a 9/11 video message that was primarily a vehicle to blast Biden for his handling of the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“The leader of our country was made to look like a fool. And that can never be allowed to happen,” Trump said in the video.

Then, in the afternoon, he made a pair of surprise visits, one to a local firehouse.

“You gave me great support,” he told firefighters there.

And he again falsely claimed he won the November election: “We won the election, but what are you gonna do?”

At an adjacent police precinct, Trump again fixated on Afghanistan as well as the Police Benevolent Association’s endorsement of his 2020 campaign. Then, asked by a police officer if he’s going to run again, Trump said this:

“I think you’re going to be happy. Let me put it that way, ok? I think you’re going to be very happy.”

Trump gave city officials only a moment’s notice before his appearances, according to a City Hall source.

New York’s elected officials, meanwhile, were distinctly more on-topic with their messaging.

“After 9/11, they said we’d never come back,” Sen. Charles Schumer said in an interview with NY1. “South of Canal Street would be a ghost town, all the financial companies and everybody else would leave. We came back bigger and better than ever, we’ll come back again bigger and better than ever.”

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