Trump Mulls Declassifying 9/11 Files After Families' Plea

WASHINGTON — While stepping off a diplomatic stop in Ireland, former President Donald Trump said he would take a look at a request that’s been bubbling up for years: the families of September 11 victims want the U.S. government to declassify any files that might reveal a Saudi link to the attacks.

“I’m going to look at it when I get back,” Trump told a small crowd just before boarding Air Force One. “I know they asked me Friday.” The comment came after a somber remembrance ceremony in New York, where relatives read the names of those lost and pressed the administration for answers.

Several of those families have long argued that a handful of ultra‑conservative religious figures in Saudi Arabia gained enough sway to help the hijackers, many of whom were Saudi nationals. While 15 of the 19 men who flew the planes were born in Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has consistently denied any direct involvement.

One of the most vocal advocates, Terry Strada—who lost her husband Tom on that fateful day—called on Trump to “tell the Saudis to stop lying.” She added that past presidents seemed more interested in protecting Saudi interests than standing with the victims’ families.

“It’s been one betrayal after another,” Strada said, her voice cracking as she recounted the names of the dead. “President Trump can still change that.”

The request isn’t just a symbolic gesture. The families are pursuing a lengthy legal battle that aims to force the release of classified documents, believing they could finally confirm—or refute—the theory that Saudi officials played a hidden hand.

Trump’s tentative promise to review the matter does not guarantee any action. He offered no timeline, nor did he specify which agency would handle the review. Nonetheless, his acknowledgment sparked a brief flurry of reactions on social media, with some praising the move and others warning it could become another political footnote.

As the former president heads back to Washington, the question remains: will the administration follow through, or will the request fade into the already crowded archive of 9/11 investigations?