Former US President Donald Trump skipped the formal ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks to slam Joe Biden's "inept administration" over the Afghan withdrawal.
Trump was noticeably absent from Saturday's memorial service at Ground Zero in lower Manhattan in New York, where former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton were in attendance while George W Bush delivered remarks in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
He instead chose a visit to the New York Police Department's 17th precinct on Manhattan's east, where he repeated his frequent lie the 2020 election was "rigged" to a group of officers at the precinct near his Manhattan home.
Trump used the day to hint that he may be making a run for President in the 2024 election.
"I think you're going to be happy," Trump said during his visit to NYPD's 17th precinct. "That's a tough question, actually it's an easy question.
"I know what I'm going to do, but we're not supposed to be talking about it yet, from the standpoint of campaign finance laws, which frankly are ridiculous."
Trump also used the day to criticise current President Joe Biden for his handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal.
"The leader of our country was made to look like a fool and that can never be allowed to happen," Trump said in a video statement. "Bad planning, incredible weakness and leaders who truly didn't understand what was happening.
"We will struggle to recover from the embarrassment this incompetence has caused.
"Joe Biden and his inept administration surrendered in defeat."
Earlier, Trump released a written statement congratulating his ex-lawyer Rudy Giuliani for being "the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City", to honour his leadership after the 9/11 attacks.
"Congratulations to Rudy Giuliani (for the 20th time!), the greatest Mayor in the history of New York City, for having shown such leadership and doing such an incredible job during and after the attack on our Nation!"
Giuliani was the Mayor of New York City and was heralded for his response to the 9/11 attacks. He coordinated the response and organized the support of state and federal authorities for the World Trade Center site, for citywide anti-terrorist measures, and for restoration of infrastructure.
Giuliani has since become notorious for his support over Trump's election fraud claims.
