9/11 families at Ground Zero implore Trump to release Saudi Arabia files for long-sought justice

On a somber, overcast morning at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, family members of those killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks delivered a direct plea to former President Donald Trump. Their urgent message, voiced during the 25th anniversary commemoration, centered on the release of unredacted government files that they believe could definitively link Saudi Arabia to the tragic events. The call for transparency and accountability underscores a decades-long struggle for justice, reigniting focus on a contentious issue that has spanned multiple presidential administrations.

Renewed calls for Saudi accountability

The core of the families’ demand revolves around long-held suspicions that elements within the Saudi government provided support to two of the 9/11 hijackers. Their claims specifically highlight two Saudi nationals: Omar al-Bayoumi, accused of assisting hijackers Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar in securing an apartment in San Diego, and Fahad al-Thumairy, an accredited Saudi diplomat and imam with alleged contacts with al-Bayoumi. While the 9/11 Commission documented connections between these individuals, its report did not conclude direct governmental or senior official support for the plot.

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However, recently declassified investigative materials and evidence presented in an ongoing civil lawsuit have intensified scrutiny of these historical links. In a significant development, U.S. District Judge George Daniels ruled in August 2025 that the families had submitted sufficient evidence to proceed with claims against Saudi Arabia, though this ruling did not determine the kingdom’s ultimate responsibility. This legal momentum, combined with additional FBI and British intelligence findings, has emboldened the families to push for the full disclosure of all relevant records.

A history of perceived betrayal

Speaking from the memorial stage, Terry Strada, whose husband Tom perished in the attacks, articulated a profound sense of disillusionment. She accused successive administrations, including leaders present at the ceremony, of prioritizing the protection of Saudi Arabia over the pursuit of justice for 9/11 families. Her remarks drew strong applause from the attendees, highlighting the widespread frustration among the victims’ loved ones.

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Strada specifically criticized former President Barack Obama, who was in attendance, for his 2016 veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). Although Congress later overrode this veto, allowing families to sue Saudi Arabia, the initial executive action remains a painful symbol of perceived governmental obstruction. Dennis McGinley, whose brother Danny was on the 89th floor of the South Tower, echoed this sentiment, telling reporters, “Administration after administration has not done anything for us. In fact, they’ve blocked, blocked us every step of the way of getting justice.”

The families point to a pattern of actions they view as detrimental to their quest for truth:

• Withholding crucial evidence related to the attacks.
• The presidential veto of the JASTA legislation.
• Broken promises, both publicly and privately made, regarding transparency.

Trump’s unique opportunity and past stance

The families now see President Trump as uniquely positioned to alter this narrative of betrayal. Speakers at the memorial directly appealed to him, urging him to convey to Saudi leaders that continued denial of their alleged involvement is incompatible with friendship with the United States. “President Trump has a unique, historic opportunity here to be a hero, be our champion, finally close the books on this American nightmare, which is now becoming an American embarrassment,” McGinley emphasized.

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Trump himself has previously acknowledged lingering questions surrounding the attacks. In 2022, while defending his decision to host a Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament at his New Jersey club amid protests from 9/11 families, he stated, “Nobody has gotten to the bottom of 9/11.” However, despite these past remarks, Trump has not yet publicly committed to releasing additional files concerning Saudi Arabia’s alleged ties to the hijackers, leaving the families hopeful but uncertain.

Personal stories fuel the decades-long fight

For individuals like Passananti, the demand for accountability is deeply intertwined with personal loss. His father, Horace Robert Passananti, was working on the 100th floor of the North Tower when the first plane struck. Passananti, then 32, made a call he would never forget, hearing the news but never speaking to his father again. He has attended the annual ceremony almost every year since, driven by a profound need for closure.

“I wish I wasn’t here, obviously, but I feel like I have to be here every year,” Passananti shared. Affiliated with the group 9/11 Justice, he articulated the families’ collective frustration: “We’ve gotten really no help from our government. We feel like they’ve put Saudi Arabia ahead of the 9/11 families, and we’re hoping that will change.” The prolonged legal and political battle, he added, feels like “a twilight zone,” an inexplicable fight for justice for the worst terrorist attack on American soil.

Similarly, Dennis McGinley recounted calling his brother Danny after witnessing the first plane hit the World Trade Center. Danny, who initially believed it was a small aircraft, described seeing people jumping from the neighboring tower before being instructed to remain in place just moments before the South Tower was struck. McGinley never spoke to him again. “It is like the wound never healed, and every year we get salt poured back into that wound,” he said, underscoring the enduring pain that fuels the families’ relentless pursuit of answers and accountability.