‘Betrayal’: 9/11 families furious at White House snub

Mourners at September 11 memorials were shocked at a ‘heartbreaking’ first for the anniversary, amid a devastating plan for the terror attack masterminds to escape death penalty.

Joe Biden became the first US president in 22 years not to mark September 11 at an attack site or the White House, infuriating families of the 2,977 killed in 2001.

It comes after the White House was forced to reject a plan to offer the five accused 9/11 masterminds a plea deal to avoid the death penalty and improve their conditions at Guantanamo Bay.

“It’s the opposite of what we’ve all pledged to never forget,” said Terry Strada, who lost her husband Tom at the World Trade Centre.

“He [Biden] is just saying flippantly that he doesn’t have to come to any of the sites and commemorate the loss with the families. That’s terrible,” she added to Fox Digital.

Biden planned to mark the anniversary at an Air Force base in Alaska, where his plane is expected to refuel on the route home from his trip to Vietnam. He instead sent Vice President Kamala Harris to New York.

Vice President Kamala Harris flanked by New York Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul. Picture: AFP

Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants, places a flower on the 9/11 memorial pool. Picture: AFP

A fireman salutes the FDNY memorial wall honouring the lives of those lost in the attack. Picture: AFP

All previous presidents, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, have marked September 11 at either at a White House memorial service or at one of the attack sites, ground zero, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Matt Bocchi, the son of 9/11 victim John Bocchi, said Biden’s break from tradition was the “unfortunate reality” about the United States in 2023.

“If our leader is so willing to not show up to the memorial service, it’s showing the message that Americans have forgotten and that it’s OK to forget. Unfortunately for myself and for all the other families and those joining with us this morning, we have no way of forgetting,” he said.

“This is something that forever changed our lives and this is something that we’re going to live with forever, even if the rest of the country can let this be a day that they do forget.”

Joe Biden boards Air Force One on September 11, becoming the first president to skip a morning memorial service at one of the attack sites or the White House. Picture; AFP

The US president missing from the memorial services, and instead marking the occasion at a refuelling stop came just days after the White House faced backlash over a potential plea deal for the attack’s alleged ring leaders.

The Biden administration rejected the plan amid outrage from the 9/11 victims’ families, who received a letter from the Pentagon informing them of the plea deals being considered for the five, including suspected mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The letter by the Office of Military Commissions — Convening Authority said “it is possible that a PTA [pre-trial agreement] in this case would remove the possibility of the death penalty at sentencing”.

Strada, who represents families of the 9/11 victims, said the plea deal was just the latest slap in the face for those demanding answers, including what role Saudi Arabia played in funding the al Qaeda attacks.

“The fact that there are now potential plea deals being offered right at the anniversary, it’s just a horrible, terrible feeling of betrayal,” Strada added to USA Today.

“I mean, justice has not been served in two decades. How much more do they expect the families to be able to take? People are dying without seeing justice done.”

After the widespread outrage over the potential plea deal, the Biden administration released a statement supporting US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in not accepting the demands for a plea.

“The 9/11 attacks were the single worst assault on the United States since Pearl Harbor,” the National Security Council spokesperson said.

“The President does not believe that accepting the joint policy principles as a basis for a pre-trial agreement would be appropriate in these circumstances. The Administration is committed to ensuring that the military commissions process is fair and delivers justice to the victims, survivors, families, and those accused of crimes.”

No trial date has been set for the five detainees at Guantanamo Bay, with more pre-trial proceedings resuming this week.

Originally published as ‘Betrayal’: 9/11 families furious at White House snub