Mr. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, laid wreaths at the site where one of the planes hijacked in the terrorist attack in 2001 fell, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Biden arrived at Ground Zero in New York, where the World Trade Center was located before the twin towers were attacked in the September 11 attacks. Mr. Biden also arrived later that day in Shanksville but did not meet Mr. Trump.
Mr. Biden, former US vice president, greeted Vice President Mike Pence at Ground Zero.
In Shanksville, Mr. Trump reiterated the story of the plane being hijacked. “The heroes of Flight 93 are staggering monuments reminding that no matter what danger, threat or difference America is faced, America will always get up, rise and fight” he said.
Trump also said the United States was united after September 11. This contrasts sharply with the current state of divisions in the United States as the country is struggling with a pandemic, economic downturn, and a protest movement against racism and police violence.
Mr.Trump and his wife spent a moment of silence on the Air Force One jet before the plane landed in Pennsylvania.
At an event in New York, Mr. Biden spent time meeting relatives of the victims. In the photo, he talks with 90-year-old Maria Fisher, who lost her son in the terrorist attack. Mr. Biden said he also lost his son – Beau Biden died of cancer, and gave her a rose.
“Someone who loses someone will need a lot of courage to get back here today,” Mr. Biden later said “I know it from my own experience, losing your wife, son, daughter, you live with that memory, the moment it happened … so I admire the families who came here“.
Mr. Biden said he wanted to avoid talking about politics on the tragic day of the country, in the midst of another crisis – the Covid-19 pandemic. “I will not announce anything today, I will not talk about anything other than the 9/11 event,” he told reporters.
In Shanksville, Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, placed a wreath at the memorial and greeted the families of some of the victims.
Pennsylvania is considered an important fluctuating state in this year’s presidential race in the US. In 2016, Mr Trump won here with a narrow 1% popular vote, and this year the Democrats hope they can turn things around.