25th Anniversary of 9/11: Calls for Accountability
Terry Strada, who lost her husband in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, spoke during the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero. She asserted that Saudi Arabia continues to avoid responsibility for the attacks.
Strada accused the U.S. government of protecting Saudi Arabia. She stated, “Administration after administration has failed the victims’ families over the last quarter-century.” She described Saudi Arabia as fostering a culture of anti-American terrorism and aiding the hijackers responsible for the tragedy.
“For 25 years, administration after administration chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families,” Strada emphasized.
During the memorial, she addressed Vice President JD Vance, the most senior Trump administration official present, urging him to relay her message to President Donald Trump. She asked that Saudi Arabia be held accountable for its actions.
Strada’s husband, Tom Strada, was on the 104th floor of the North Tower during the attack. He worked at Cantor Fitzgerald and called her during the crisis before heading to the stairwell.
The Strada family, along with thousands of other families, pursued legal action against Saudi Arabia, alleging support for the hijackers. Saudi Arabia has consistently denied these allegations. A federal judge found “reasonable evidence” suggesting that Saudi government employees supported the hijackers, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.
The Strada family faced legal barriers due to sovereign immunity protections which Congress overturned in 2016 by passing the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). This law enabled lawsuits against foreign governments accused of supporting terrorist acts on U.S. soil. Despite President Barack Obama’s initial veto, Congress enacted JASTA, allowing lawsuits like Strada’s against Saudi Arabia to commence in 2017.
The case remains active in federal court as families like Strada’s seek accountability for the events of September 11.