President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will look into requests from families of Sept. 11 victims to release records that could shed light on Saudi Arabia’s alleged role in the attacks 25 years ago.
Several families have long alleged that a group of extremist religious leaders in Saudi Arabia gained influence in the Saudi government and aided the hijackers. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudis, but the Saudi government has long denied any involvement in the attacks.
The families have asked Trump to declassify and release the relevant records. Asked about it Sunday during his trip to Ireland, the president said he would consider it.
“I’m going to look at it when I get back,” Trump said just before boarding Air Force One to return to Washington after a weekend in Ireland. “I know they asked me Friday.”
The relatives of 9/11 victims have been engaged in a lengthy legal battle against the Saudis. One of them, Terry Strada, called on Trump during the remembrance in New York City on Friday to “tell the Saudis to stop lying.”
Strada, who lost her husband Tom Strada on 9/11, said U.S. presidents had chosen “to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families.”
Strada, who was one of the 9/11 family members who read aloud the names of victims at this year’s remembrance, added that the current administration should “stand with the families, stand with the survivors.”
“It has been one betrayal after another,” she said. “President Trump can still change that.”
On a recent trip to Ireland, President Donald Trump expressed his willingness to consider requests from families of September 11 victims regarding the declassification and release of records that could clarify Saudi Arabia’s alleged involvement in the attacks. This comes in light of longstanding claims by these families that extremist religious leaders in Saudi Arabia influenced the government and aided the hijackers, 15 of whom were Saudi nationals. Despite these allegations, the Saudi government has consistently denied any complicity in the attacks.
During his visit, Trump acknowledged the families’ requests, stating, “I’m going to look at it when I get back,” after he was approached about the matter. This dialogue highlights the ongoing struggles of 9/11 victims’ families, who have been engaged in a protracted legal battle against Saudi Arabia. One prominent figure among them, Terry Strada, publicly called on Trump during a recent remembrance ceremony in New York City to confront Saudi officials and demand accountability.
Strada, who lost her husband Tom in the attacks, expressed frustration over what she perceives as a pattern of U.S. presidents prioritizing relationships with Saudi Arabia over justice for the victims and their families. She urged the current administration to take a stand alongside the families and survivors, stating, “It has been one betrayal after another,” and emphasized that Trump has the opportunity to change this narrative.
This situation reflects the broader complexities surrounding the U.S.-Saudi relationship, particularly in the context of the 9/11 attacks. The families of the victims have long sought transparency and accountability, while the Saudi government has sought to distance itself from any wrongdoing. As Trump prepares to return to Washington, his consideration of the families’ requests could potentially influence the ongoing discourse about Saudi Arabia’s role in the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
