9/11 Families Demand Saudi Accountability, File Declassification at Ground Zero Ceremony

Some 9/11 families openly called on President Donald Trump to hold Saudi Arabia accountable during the ground zero memorial ceremony on Friday.

Terry Strada, widow of 9/11 victim Tom Strada, admonished prior administrations, including leaders present, for failing to get answers about the Saudi government's alleged role. Strada stated, "Administration after administration, including leaders in front of us here today, chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families," calling it one betrayal after another.

A coalition of victims' families is suing the Saudi government over their alleged role and pursuing evidence of Saudi complicity. The Saudis deny the claim and are fighting the suit in court, stating they are an ally of the United States [and] a sworn enemy of Al Qaeda. According to the FBI, many of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi nationals.

President Trump faced renewed calls to declassify 9/11 files. A man identifying himself as the nephew of Lisa Marie Terry drew applause when he addressed Trump, stating, "President Trump, you’re our last hope. Release the unredacted files that implicate Saudi Arabia." White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated last week that "President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in history, and his team is working diligently to identify records that are responsive to these families' request."

Strada also called on Vice President JD Vance, who was at the event, to carry that message back. Strada stated that 9/11 Families United proved that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fomented a rancid culture of anti-American terrorism around the globe and then sent its agents to support the radical Islamic hijackers. Strada criticized the U.S. government for allegedly withholding evidence and vetoing JASTA, which Congress later overrode.