Key Takeaways
- President Trump renewed the 'war on terror' by fighting Iran, 25 years after 9/11.
- Trump criticized Democrats as 'fanatics' during the speech.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also condemned Iran as a 'state sponsor of terrorism.'
President Donald Trump renewed the 'war on terror' by linking the 9/11 attacks to the ongoing conflict with Iran, during a speech at the Pentagon. The speech, delivered on the 25th anniversary of the attacks, emphasized the continuation of the fight against terrorism.
In his address, Trump stated, 'Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget. That’s why we fight today.'
The president also criticized domestic 'fanatics,' a reference to Democrats, during the speech, suggesting a political divide on the issue of terrorism and Iran.
Trump's remarks came after he had accused Democrats of sympathizing with the 9/11 attackers during a Republican convention for the US midterm elections.
During the speech, Trump highlighted the story of a firefighter killed in the attacks whose son went on to become a US Navy veteran, emphasizing the importance of heroes who are not 'fanatics for an abstract cause.'
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also addressed the gathering, stating, 'Over the past six months, we have laid waste to the world’s most prolific state sponsor of terrorism. Our warriors have fought an Islamic theocracy that has wished us death for nearly half a century.'
The ongoing conflict with Iran has resulted in a stalemate, with Iran maintaining its grip on the Strait of Hormuz and keeping oil prices high, despite sporadic exchanges of fire with the United States.
Trump's speech at the Pentagon marked a significant moment in the ongoing political and military tensions between the United States and Iran, as the country continues to be seen as a 'number one sponsor of terror.'
Today we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago. We will never, ever forget. That’s why we fight today.
President Donald Trump, President of the United States
Over the past six months, we have laid waste to the world’s most prolific state sponsor of terrorism. Our warriors have fought an Islamic theocracy that has wished us death for nearly half a century.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, US Defense Secretary
