White House campaign casts a shadow over 9-11 anniversary
NEW YORK — The U.S. marked the 15th anniversary of 9-11 with the solemn roll call of the dead Sunday but couldn’t keep the presidential campaign from intruding on what is traditionally a politics-free moment of remembrance.
About 90 minutes into the ground zero ceremony, Hillary Clinton left after feeling “overheated,” her campaign said. A doctor for the 68-year-old Democrat said Sunday she had previously been diagnosed with pneumonia. Hours after video surfaced of her stumbling into a van, Clinton said she was “feeling great,” but the doctor advised her to rest.
Donald Trump has repeatedly questioned whether Clinton is physically fit to be president. Asked about the incident, the Republican nominee said only: “I don’t know anything about it.” Trump left the ceremony after Clinton.
The episode cast a political shadow over an event that has tried to keep the focus on remembrance by inviting politicians but barring them from speaking. The two candidates had followed the custom of suspending all TV ads for the day.