President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used remarks at the 25th anniversary 9/11 memorial ceremony at the Pentagon to defend the US-Israel war on Iran, according to the Guardian. The specific wording of their remarks was not detailed in the available reporting.
Key facts
- The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
- The Guardian reported that Trump and Hegseth used their remarks to defend the US-Israel war on Iran.
- Both suggested the conflict was part of the legacy of the 9/11 attacks, according to the Guardian.
- The Guardian said the war was launched more than six months ago, describing it as unpopular and open-ended.
- The full text of Trump's and Hegseth's remarks was not included in the available source.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used remarks at the memorial ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks to defend the US-Israel war on Iran, according to the Guardian.
Ceremonies held on September 11 typically focus on the victims of the 2001 attacks. This year, according to the Guardian, both the president and his defense secretary directed comments toward the current conflict with Iran.
The Guardian reported that Trump and Hegseth each pointed to the war, framing it as part of the legacy of the 9/11 attacks. The outlet described the conflict as unpopular and said it was launched more than six months ago with no end in sight.
The available source did not include direct quotations from either Trump or Hegseth, and it is not yet clear from this reporting precisely how they characterised the connection between the attacks and the war. A response from the administration was not included in the source.
Why it matters
According to the Guardian, tying the September 11 anniversary to an ongoing conflict departs from the customary focus of such ceremonies on victims of the 2001 attacks. How the public and political figures respond, and the administration's own account of the remarks, remain to be seen.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump and Hegseth say at the 9/11 ceremony?
According to the Guardian, both President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used their remarks at the Pentagon memorial to defend the US-Israel war on Iran and suggested the conflict was part of the legacy of the 9/11 attacks.
When did the war on Iran begin?
The Guardian reports that the US-Israel war on Iran was launched more than six months before the September 11, 2026 ceremony, with no end in sight.
What anniversary was being marked?
The ceremony marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, the worst terrorist attack in US history.