25 Years Later, 9/11 Families Seek Accountability and Answers
On a gray morning where once stood two towering structures, families of New Yorkers lost in the 9/11 attacks gathered with a direct appeal to President Donald Trump: reveal the unredacted documents they believe tie Saudi Arabia to the tragedy.
Vice President JD Vance was present at the ceremony alongside past presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Other attendees included New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo.
From the memorial stage, Terry Strada, who lost her husband Tom in the attack, called out past administrations for allegedly defending Saudi Arabia rather than supporting 9/11 families. She specifically criticized President Barack Obama, who vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) in 2016, though Congress later overrode his veto, allowing families to pursue legal action against Saudi Arabia for its suspected involvement in the attacks.
Calls for Presidential Action
Terry Strada urged President Trump to communicate to Saudi leaders that denying the pain and destruction suffered is unacceptable if they seek to maintain a friendship with the USA. Another speaker asked Vice President Vance to carry the families’ message back, urging support for survivors and families.
“President Trump has a unique, historic opportunity here to be a hero,” said Dennis McGinley, who lost his brother Danny, who worked in the South Tower.
The families renewed their call for accountability on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, accusing Saudi Arabia of aiding two hijackers in setting up a base in the United States. The accusations focus on Omar al-Bayoumi, a Saudi national who helped hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar find an apartment in San Diego, and Fahad al-Thumairy, a Saudi diplomat linked to al-Bayoumi.
The 9/11 Commission noted the connections but did not conclude Saudi government involvement. Their report found no proof that another Saudi, Osama Bassnan, funded the hijackers. New evidence and legal actions have amplified scrutiny of these links. In 2025, U.S. District Judge George Daniels allowed claims against Saudi Arabia to move forward, without determining their culpability in the attacks.
Passananti, who lost his father on the 100th floor of the North Tower, is among those pushing for truth and justice. He attends the ceremony annually, driven by the desire for accountability for the attacks.
Continued Calls for Justice
The 9/11 families, including both victims’ relatives and first responders who later succumbed to related illnesses, persist in their demands for answers. Jen Nilsen, a widow from the attacks, shared that the pain endures even after 25 years.
“Even though years go on, you never forget. The hurt is always there,” Nilsen affirmed.