Full Breakdown
Terry Strada’s 25th-Anniversary Call for Saudi Accountability
By Drooid · · How we work
The Speech at Ground Zero
On September 11, 2026, the National 9/11 Memorial in New York hosted the 25th-anniversary ceremony. Terry Strada, national chair of 9/11 Families United, stepped up to read her husband Tom Strada’s name and then used the podium to demand accountability for Saudi Arabia and to condemn successive U.S. administrations.
“My husband, Tom Strada, you are missed more with each year that passes. But how can it be 25 years and still we have no justice for the role that Saudi Arabia played in your murder,” — Terry Strada
“They withheld evidence. They vetoed JASTA,” — Terry Strada
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fomented a rancid culture of anti-American terrorism around the globe, and then sent its agents to support the radical Islamist hijackers so they could attack you and all of our loved ones,” — Terry Strada
“It has been one betrayal after another. President Trump can still change that. Tell the Saudis to stop lying. Tell them that if they want to be friends with the USA, they cannot continue to deny all of this,” — Terry Strada
Background: Saudi-Al Qaeda Links and Legal Efforts
Fifteen of the nineteen hijackers who carried out the September 11 attacks were Saudi citizens, a fact repeatedly cited by families and investigators. In 2016 Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), overturning a presidential veto and allowing U.S. victims to sue foreign governments for material support of terrorism. A federal judge in 2023 found “reasonable evidence” that two Saudi government employees aided the hijackers, permitting the lawsuit against Saudi Arabia to proceed.
Legal Landscape and Upcoming Hearing
The case continues to move through the courts. A federal appeals panel is scheduled to hear additional arguments next month concerning Saudi national Omar al-Bayoumi, who, according to a 2017 FBI memo, had ties to the hijackers and was on the payroll of Saudi intelligence. The panel’s decision could shape the next phase of the litigation.
Official Statements & Responses
Saudi officials have consistently denied any governmental involvement in the attacks that killed 2,977 people in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. After the veto, Congress overrode the objection, enacting JASTA into law.
Data & Statistics
- Total deaths on September 11, 2001: 2,977 people.
- Saudi nationals among the hijackers: 15 of 19.
- Federal judge’s 2023 finding: evidence that two Saudi employees supported the hijackers.
- JASTA enacted in 2016, enabling the current civil suit against Saudi Arabia.
Criticism & Opposition
This denial stands in direct opposition to the claims advanced by 9/11 Families United and the evidence cited by U.S. courts.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree on the number of Saudi hijackers but differ on the extent of official Saudi support. While the 2023 ruling acknowledges “reasonable evidence” of two operatives, other reports describe the evidence as “newly surfaced video footage” and “hand-drawn diagrams,” indicating that the factual basis remains contested and the lawsuit’s ultimate outcome is uncertain.
What’s Next
The appellate hearing next month will focus on the alleged role of Omar al-Bayoumi and could set precedent for holding foreign states liable under JASTA. Families of 9/11 victims, including Strada, view the proceeding as a pivotal step toward the “justice” they have sought for a quarter-century.
