9/11 Families Advocate for Accountability from Saudi Arabia

Terry Strada, widow of a victim lost in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, spoke at the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero in New York. Her husband, Tom Strada, was killed in the tragic event, and she has been vocal about her belief that Saudi Arabia avoids responsibility for the attacks. She accused the U.S. government of consistently protecting Saudi Arabia.

Strada declared, “Administration after administration has failed the victims’ families over these 25 years. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fueled a culture of anti-American terrorism globally, sending agents to support the hijackers in attacking innocent lives.”

“For 25 years, administrations here today chose protection of the Saudis over standing with 9/11 families,” said Strada, addressing the gathered crowd, including officials.

She also directed her message at Vice President JD Vance, the most senior official from the Trump administration present at the commemoration. President Trump, meanwhile, participated in a separate ceremony at the Pentagon.

During her speech, Strada expressed her concerns, saying, “This has been one betrayal after another. President Trump can still make a change. Push the Saudis for honesty. If they want friendship with the USA, they must acknowledge these issues.” She urged Vice President Vance to relay this concern back to the President.

Recalling her husband, Tom, Strada noted he was on the 104th floor of the North Tower. Working at Cantor Fitzgerald, Tom tragically lost his life in the attacks, days after welcoming their third child. In a previous interview, Strada shared that Tom called her post-impact, reassuring he was moving towards the stairwell.

Strada has championed for accountability and transparency related to the attacks, representing many of the survivors and family members in legal action against Saudi Arabia. The lawsuit alleges Saudi Arabia provided material support to the al Qaeda hijackers, claims the kingdom has denied. Last August, a federal judge cited reasonable evidence suggesting involvement by two Saudi government employees with the hijackers.

The legal pursuit gained traction following the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) in 2016, overturning previous sovereign immunity protections. JASTA enabled families to sue foreign governments accused of backing terrorists on U.S. soil. Although initially vetoed by President Obama for potentially stripping foreign governments of judicial immunity, Congress enacted JASTA, leading to the lawsuit’s filing against Saudi Arabia in 2017. The case is active in federal court.