The Hill News

President George W. Bush will not attend a ceremony with President Obama at Ground Zero in New York City on Thursday, citing his desire to remain out of the spotlight.

"President Bush will not be in attendance on Thursday. He appreciated the invite, but has chosen in his post-presidency to remain largely out of the spotlight," Bush spokesman Davis Sherzer said in a statement.

{mosads}Obama will visit the site of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that took down the World Trade Center after announcing Sunday that U.S. forces killed Osama bin Laden, the man behind those attacks, at his compound in Pakistan.

Bush was invited to attend the event commemorating the attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people less than a year after he was inaugurated. 

Sherzer said that Bush "continues to celebrate with all Americans this important victory in the war on terror."

In a statement on Sunday, Bush said Obama called to inform him that a small team of U.S. special forces killed bin Laden.

"The fight against terror goes on, but tonigh! t America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done," Bush said.