Trump, Past US Presidents Mark 9/11's 25th Anniversary

Is honoring 9/11 victims about forcing Saudi Arabia to finally answer for its role or about rebuilding the counterterrorism defenses now being hollowed out?
Trump, Past US Presidents Mark 9/11's 25th Anniversary
Above: Donald Trump and Melania Trump during the 25th anniversary commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks at the Pentagon on Sept. 11. Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin


Narrative A

Twenty-five years on, the families still have no justice because administration after administration shielded Saudi Arabia instead of the Americans it buried. They withheld evidence, vetoed JASTA, broke public and private promises and the betrayals kept coming. Release the unredacted files and make the Kingdom answer for the agents who backed the hijackers.

Narrative B

The real way to honor the victims is to keep the next attack from happening, and right now that mission is being hollowed out. Experienced counterterrorism agents are walking out the door, budgets are being cut and FBI personnel are being pulled onto immigration raids while al-Qaeda and IS franchises spread across Somalia and the Sahel. Complacency is how 9/11 happened the first time.

Narrative C

Saudi Arabia is America's partner in fighting terrorism, and there's no evidence that the government or senior officials directed or funded the attacks. Since then, Riyadh has emerged as a critical counterterrorism partner, providing intelligence that has disrupted plots and reforming its approach to extremism. Preserving this partnership strengthens defenses against current threats from Iran and jihadist groups far more effectively than litigating settled history.


Metaculus Prediction



Go Deeper

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.16.0

© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 7.16.0