Hegseth Uses 25th 9/11 Ceremony to Praise Trump and Attack Iran
Updated
Updated · The Independent · Sep 11
Hegseth Uses 25th 9/11 Ceremony to Praise Trump and Attack Iran
3 articles · Updated · The Independent · Sep 11
Summary
At the Pentagon’s 25th anniversary ceremony for 9/11, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shifted from memorial remarks to praising Donald Trump and tying the administration’s war against Iran to the 2001 attacks.
His speech moved from honoring the 184 people killed at the Pentagon to claims the U.S. had destroyed Iran’s military leadership, air force and navy, while invoking an “Islamist threat” to justify the conflict.
Condoleezza Rice struck a sharply different tone, saying officials “did not see the nature of the danger in time” and expressing “deep personal remorse” to families of the victims.
Trump, introduced by Hegseth, largely stayed on script and delivered a conventional tribute to victims and survivors of the four hijackings, underscoring the contrast with his defense secretary’s remarks.