Terry Strada Calls for Accountability from Saudi Arabia on 9/11 Anniversary

Terry Strada speaks openly about the responsibility of Saudi Arabia in the 9/11 attacks. Her husband, Tom Strada, was killed in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. During the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero, she stated that Saudi Arabia continues to evade accountability for these attacks.

Strada accused the U.S. government of shielding Saudi Arabia. She remarked that successive administrations have let down the victims’ families over the past 25 years. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fostered an anti-American culture globally,” she said. “They supported hijackers responsible for attacking our loved ones.” Despite this, leaders preferred to protect the Saudis over supporting the 9/11 families.

Strada addressed Vice President JD Vance, the highest-ranking Trump administration official present at the ceremony. President Donald Trump was at the Pentagon at the time. “There’s been betrayal consistently,” she said. “President Trump has the power to change this. Inform the Saudis they cannot maintain friendship with the USA if they keep denying these facts.” She urged Vance to relay this message to President Trump, advocating for the families and survivors.

Tom Strada worked at Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor of the North Tower. When American Airlines Flight 11 hit, he called his wife from his office, explaining he planned to reach the stairwell. This call was one of his last actions before the tower collapsed. Following the tragedy, Strada became a strong voice for transparency regarding the 9/11 attacks.

Alongside other family members and survivors, Strada sued Saudi Arabia, accusing it of aiding the al Qaeda hijackers. Saudi Arabia denies these claims. Last August, a federal judge recognized “reasonable evidence” that two Saudi government employees assisted hijackers in the U.S. in 2000. This ruling allowed the lawsuit to proceed, despite Saudi Arabia’s attempt to have it dismissed.

The possibility for 9/11 victims’ families to sue a foreign government was unprecedented until 2016. That year, Congress passed the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), permitting such lawsuits. Although President Barack Obama vetoed it, Congress subsequently overrode his decision. This paved the way for the lawsuit against Saudi Arabia in March 2017, which is still ongoing.

Criticism was directed at Obama for his veto. He warned that JASTA could remove immunity for foreign governments based solely on private allegations. Despite these concerns, the law now stands and supports the families’ pursuit of justice.