Joe Biden joined other former presidents at the Ground Zero memorial where relatives of 9/11 victims publicly accused successive administrations of protecting Saudi interests instead of pursuing accountability. Families spoke during the 25th anniversary ceremony and singled out multiple administrations for alleged secrecy.
Terry Strada, widow of Tom Strada, told the gathering that Saudi Arabia fomented anti‑American terrorism and sent agents to support the hijackers. She said administrations in front of the families had chosen to protect the Saudis and broke promises both public and private, as reported by the memorial coverage.
A man who lost his aunt, Lisa Marie Terry, urged President Trump to release unredacted files he said implicate Saudi Arabia while victims' relatives remain alive. The man called on Trump to confront Saudi denials and make clear they cannot be U.S. allies while denying involvement.
Former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama were among those present at the New York memorial alongside Biden, former President Bill Clinton and others. President Trump attended a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, according to the reporting.
Legal And Diplomatic Stakes After Memorial Remarks
Families have pursued a decade‑long lawsuit against Saudi Arabia that is moving toward trial. Saudi officials have denied any role in the attacks and have fought the lawsuit in federal court, the reporting stated. The White House said it is working to identify records responsive to the families' requests.
The reporting noted that FBI documents published in 2022 identified Omar al‑Bayoumi as an agent of Saudi intelligence, a detail families cite in seeking disclosure. Strada asked Vice President JD Vance, who attended the ceremony, to carry the families' message back to Washington.
The coverage also highlighted recent ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia. It said President Trump hosted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House last November and is seeking congressional approval for a deal related to Saudi nuclear enrichment technology. The reporting added that Saudi bases have been used by US forces to strike Iran since the war began in February.
