Terry Strada’s Call for Accountability on 9/11 Anniversary

During a solemn ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Terry Strada, whose husband perished in the World Trade Center tragedy, voiced strong criticism of Saudi Arabia’s role. She accused the kingdom of avoiding accountability for the catastrophic events of that day.

Strada highlighted the ongoing failure of the U.S. government in holding Saudi Arabia accountable. She emphasized, “Administration after administration has failed the families of victims over the past quarter-century.” Strada claimed that Saudi Arabia cultivated a pervasive culture of anti-American terrorism worldwide and supported the hijackers involved in the attacks. Despite these accusations, she noted that successive U.S. administrations have consistently protected Saudi interests rather than supporting 9/11 families.

Terry Strada spoke passionately at the anniversary memorial, addressing Vice President JD Vance, the highest-ranking official from the Trump administration present at the ceremony in New York. President Donald Trump attended a related event at the Pentagon.

Strada expressed her discontent with the perceived betrayal by successive administrations. She urged President Trump to take decisive action. “President Trump can still change this narrative,” she stated. “Tell the Saudis to stop denying their involvement if they wish to maintain a friendship with the USA.” She also thanked Vice President Vance for his presence and urged him to convey her message to President Trump, advocating for solidarity with the families and survivors of the attacks.

Tom Strada, Terry’s husband, worked at Cantor Fitzgerald and was on the 104th floor of the North Tower when American Airlines Flight 11 struck. He contacted his wife before heading towards the stairwell, days after welcoming their third child home from the hospital. Terry Strada shared her husband’s story during an interview on the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.

Since the loss of her husband and nearly 3,000 others on September 11, Terry Strada has been a leading advocate for accountability and transparency regarding the attacks. She is part of a group of families and survivors seeking legal action against Saudi Arabia, alleging the kingdom’s material support to the al Qaeda hijackers.

Saudi Arabia has consistently denied these allegations. However, Strada reminded attendees that a federal judge, George B. Daniels, determined in August prior that there was “reasonable evidence” suggesting support from Saudi government employees to hijackers who entered the U.S. in 2000 for flight training. Consequently, the judge allowed the lawsuit to continue, rejecting Saudi Arabia’s dismissal bid.

For over a decade post-September 11, families faced barriers to suing foreign governments due to sovereign immunity rules. In 2016, Congress altered these dynamics by passing the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). It enabled lawsuits against foreign entities suspected of supporting terrorist acts on U.S. soil.

Strada criticized President Barack Obama for attempting to veto JASTA, arguing it excessively threatened foreign governments’ immunity based merely on private allegations. Nevertheless, Congress overrode this veto, enacting JASTA, which allowed the lawsuit against Saudi Arabia to commence in 2017. The proceedings continue in federal court.