On the 24th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, President Donald J. Trump issued a proclamation marking Patriot Day 2025 and called for remembrance and unity among Americans. The statement recalls the events of September 11, 2001, when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used as weapons against targets in New York City, Arlington, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
The proclamation details the timeline of the attacks: “At 8:46 a.m., the first plane — Flight 11 from Boston, Massachusetts — hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Seventeen minutes later, at 9:03 a.m., Flight 175, also from Boston, struck the South Tower. At 9:37 a.m., Flight 77 from Washington, D.C., smashed into the Pentagon. Twenty-two minutes later, the South Tower collapsed, and shortly thereafter the North Tower fell with it. Ultimately, 2,753 people perished in New York City and 184 perished in Arlington, Virginia.”
President Trump also highlighted the actions of passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93: “There was one plane still unaccounted for — Flight 93 from Newark, New Jersey — slowly advancing toward the heart of Washington, D.C., carrying 40 innocent souls. In the face of certain death, these ordinary men and women devised an extraordinary plan to deny evil another victory... With the rallying cry, ‘Let’s roll,’ they stormed the cockpit to overcome the terrorists...” He noted that their actions saved lives and protected “our Nation’s capital as a symbol of the enduring strength of our Republic.”
The statement emphasized how Americans responded to tragedy with unity: “The terrorist attacks of September 11 not only sparked fury but also a groundswell of patriotism... demonstrating that, in the wake of unimaginable evil, Americans will always stand united.” The president reiterated his administration’s commitment to national security by stating: “My Administration is committed to upholding a foreign policy of peace through strength... any enemy who seeks to strike our shores... will be met with devastation and crushing defeat by the fiercest... military on the face of the Earth.”
He honored those who died on September 11 as well as first responders: “Today, we honor and remember the souls who perished on September 11... We praise firefighters, law enforcement officers... who ran into flames... searched through rubble for signs of life.” He added that “We vow that any enemy who spills American blood will face the full wrath of American justice.”
By law established in December 2001 (Public Law 107-89), Congress designated September 11 each year as Patriot Day. President Trump concluded by proclaiming September 11, 2025 as Patriot Day and calling upon all federal entities to display flags at half-staff in memory of those lost. He encouraged young people to learn about that day from others in their community.
“As we commemorate this somber anniversary,” he said in closing remarks,“we reaffirm that ... We will never, ever forget.”
