President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Remember 9/11 Victims on 23rd Anniversary

Washington DC [US], September 11: US President Joe Biden reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to protecting American lives and preventing future terrorist attacks. He cited the examples of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, stating that the administration will continue dismantling terrorist networks worldwide. Biden’s remarks came on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which claimed 2,977 lives.

On September 11, 2001, the United States faced the deadliest terrorist attack in its history. In just 102 minutes, the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Center collapsed after planes hijacked by Al Qaeda operatives crashed into them. Biden said, “On this day 23 years ago, terrorists believed they could break our will and bring us to our knees. They were wrong… They failed. But we must remain vigilant. Today, our longest war is finally over. But our commitment to preventing another attack on our people never will be. We will continue to disrupt terrorist networks wherever we find them. And we will continue to deliver justice to terrorists who plot against America–just as we did with Osama bin Laden in 2011 and Ayman al-Zawahiri in 2022.”

He added, “Today, our nation comes together to renew our sacred vow: Never Forget. Never forget each of the 2,977 precious lives stolen from us when terrorists attacked our nation. Never forget their families who still bear the grief from that searing September morning. Never forget the heroic citizens and survivors who rushed to help their fellow Americans. And never forget that when faced with evil–and an enemy that sought to tear us apart–we endured. In the crucible of September 11 and the days that followed, we showed what Americans are made of…”

Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris also remembered the victims of the terrorist attack. She said, “Today is a day of solemn remembrance as we mourn the souls we lost in a heinous terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. We stand in solidarity with their families and loved ones…”

Recalling the events of 23 years ago, Harris emphasized that the terrorists’ goal was to destroy the foundations of American democracy and freedom, in which they failed. She said, “On September 11, 2001, terrorists sought to attack and destroy our way of life–our democracy, our freedoms, and everything we hold dear as Americans. In that endeavor, they failed. In the days that followed, we were all reminded that unity is possible in America. Together, we made clear we will not bend or break in the face of terrorism…”

On the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial airlines scheduled to travel from the northeastern US to California. They seized control of the jets to use them as passenger-filled missiles. The hijackers crashed the first two planes into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and another one crashed in Pennsylvania before reaching its presumed target. The attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 overcame the hijackers, and the plane crashed in a field, preventing another target from being hit.

By a joint resolution approved on December 18, 2001, the US Congress designated September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day.” By Public Law 111-13, approved on April 21, 2009, Congress requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized “National Day of Service and Remembrance.”