During the 25th-anniversary ground zero reading of names in New York City on Friday, Terry Strada, widow of a 9/11 victim and national chair of 9/11 Families United, sharply criticized Saudi Arabia for its role in the 2001 attacks and called on the Trump administration to hold the kingdom accountable.
A Searing Denunciation at the 25th Anniversary Ceremony
Stepping away from the traditional script at the annual lower Manhattan remembrance ceremony, Terry Strada used her time at the podium to deliver a ringing denunciation of the Saudi government. Her husband, Tom Strada, was a bond broker at Cantor Fitzgerald who died in the north tower of the World Trade Center when hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building on Sept. 11, 2001. Standing before a nationally televised audience that included four living former presidents, Strada challenged the decades-long diplomatic consensus regarding the tragedy.
“How can it be 25 years and still we have no justice for the role that Saudi Arabia played in your murder?”
Terry Strada, National Chair of 9/11 Families United
Strada’s public remarks drew loud cheers and applause from the crowd assembled at the memorial. The commemoration traditionally avoids political speeches, focusing instead on relatives reading the names of the nearly 3,000 people who perished in the attacks at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Fifteen of the 19 men who carried out the attacks were citizens of Saudi Arabia, though the kingdom has consistently denied state involvement.
Accusations of Government Betrayal and a Direct Message to the Trump Administration
Beyond condemning the kingdom, Strada turned her remarks directly toward U.S. leadership, accusing successive administrations of failing the families of victims. She asserted that federal leaders had repeatedly shielded foreign officials and withheld information from the public.
“For 25 years, administration after administration, including leaders in front of us here today, chose to protect the Saudis instead of standing with the 9/11 families. They withheld evidence. They vetoed JASTA. They broke promises, both public and private. It has been one betrayal after another.”
Terry Strada, National Chair of 9/11 Families United
While President Donald Trump did not attend the memorial, Vice President JD Vance was present on behalf of the administration. Strada urged Vance to take a firm stance and relay her message back to the White House. Please carry that message back,
she said. Stand with the families, stand with the survivors, stand with Americans.
According to post-ceremony reporting, Vance locked eyes with Strada during her appeal and patted his heart in recognition of her words.
Legal Battles and Recent Courtroom Progress
Strada’s remarks follow a significant legal milestone achieved by victim relatives in their long-running federal lawsuit against Saudi Arabia. In August 2025, U.S. District Judge George Daniels of the Southern District of New York ruled that the families’ claims were strong enough for their landmark civil case to proceed to trial, rejecting the Saudi government’s request to dismiss the litigation.
The judge’s decision centered on evidence linking two Saudi nationals—Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al-Thumairy—to early hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar. Strada referenced these legal proceedings at the podium, stating that the families finally proved in court that the kingdom fostered a hostile environment that supported the attackers.
A Broader Call to Action From Families at Ground Zero
Strada was not the only speaker to leverage the solemn anniversary to demand policy shifts from the executive branch. Later in the ceremony, another family member addressed the crowd after reading the name of his late aunt, Lisa Marie Terry, who worked as a vice president at Marsh & McLennan.
Directly addressing the executive office, the relative urged the president to declassify government documents. For 25 years, the deep state has hidden the truth about what happened that day 25 years ago,
he said to applause from attendees. President Trump, you’re our last hope.
Diplomatic Ties and Unresolved Tensions
The public appeals at ground zero intersect with a complex diplomatic backdrop. During his second term, President Trump has continued to strengthen economic and political ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while dismissing U.S. intelligence conclusions regarding the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Furthermore, commercial connections between the Trump family and the region have continued to expand, including real estate development plans announced by London-based developer Dar Global to launch Trump Plaza in Jeddah.
As the civil lawsuit moves closer to trial, victims’ families maintain that complete transparency from Washington and accountability from Riyadh remain vital. Strada made it clear that the coalition’s advocacy will persist. We’re never going to stop,
she said following the service. We’re always going to be a thorn in the kingdom’s side.
