President Donald Trump said on September 13 that he would consider requests from families of 9/11 victims to release additional classified records related to the September 11, 2001, terror attacks and potential ties to Saudi Arabia. Speaking to reporters in Ireland before departing for the U.S., Trump stated, “I’m going to look at it when I get back.”
The requests follow the recent release of more than 100 pages of intelligence documents related to the attacks, which were declassified ahead of the 23rd anniversary of the tragedy. Among the callers for transparency was Terry Strada, whose husband, Tom Strada, died in the attacks. Strada, who read the names of victims during the September 11 remembrance ceremony in New York City, urged Trump to take action, stating, “For 25 years, the deep state has hidden the truth about what happened that day.”
Fifteen of the 19 hijackers involved in the 9/11 attacks were identified as Saudi nationals by the FBI. Some families have pursued legal action against Saudi Arabia, alleging that Saudi officials provided support to Al Qaeda in the years leading up to the attacks. In 2025, a federal judge allowed a lawsuit to proceed, citing evidence that two Saudi officials may have assisted the hijackers within the scope of their employment. Saudi Arabia has consistently denied any involvement, arguing that it was a partner in U.S. counterterrorism efforts against Al Qaeda and its leader, Osama bin Laden, during the 1990s.
New York lawmakers from both parties have also called for the release of additional records, including phone records related to the attacks. U.S. Representative Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican from New York, described the current moment as “probably one of the better shots that we have at getting this information out there” and expressed hope for transparency from the administration. Earlier this month, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released approximately 170,000 pages of records related to air quality, health concerns, and the city’s response to the attacks.
The push for declassification comes amid long-standing demands from families for full disclosure of documents that could clarify the extent of foreign involvement in the attacks. Advocates argue that the release of unredacted files could provide closure for survivors and families still seeking answers after more than two decades.