WASHINGTON — President Trump delivered remarks at the Pentagon on Friday, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and specifically honoring the passengers and crew aboard Flight 93, who fought back against hijackers and caused the plane to crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, preventing it from reaching a federal government building in Washington.
Trump asserted that the United States is stronger than ever. "Today our country is stronger than it has ever been before," he said.
The president connected 9/11 remembrance to current geopolitical challenges, invoking the "war on terror" in present tense and alluding to service members continuing the fight through ongoing tensions with Iran.
"We salute the service members working right now to ensure the world's number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon," Trump said.
He urged Americans to raise their children to embrace the country's values. "We can raise our children to know that their country is good, that their fathers are brave, and that our flag is a symbol of justice and freedom," he said.
Trump honored first responders and law enforcement, contrasting the 9/11 heroes who "race into buildings and give their lives on a Tuesday morning for strangers" with "fanatics for an abstract cause."
"Today, we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names, a quarter of a century ago—we will never, ever forget," Trump said. "That's why we fight today. We don't have a choice. There can only be victory. We fight hard, we fight to win."
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in advance that the president would "remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans."
Moments of silence were observed throughout the day at 9:59 a.m. ET for the South Tower collapse, 10:03 a.m. ET when Flight 93 crashed, 10:28 a.m. ET for the North Tower collapse, and 12:13 p.m. for those who died from 9/11-related health issues. The Pentagon ceremony specifically honored the 184 lives lost at that site.
Former national security adviser Condoleezza Rice, who served during the attacks under President George W. Bush, also participated in remembrance activities.
