Twenty-five years after September 11, I watched a remembrance ceremony that should have belonged entirely to the people we lost and the families who have spent a quarter of a century missing them. At the Pentagon, a bell rang for each of the 184 victims. Among those lost were three 11-year-olds who had boarded Flight 77 for a field trip and 125 people who had gone to work that morning. Donald Trump nodded off as the ceremony unfolded. When he spoke, he used time that belonged to those families to promote his war with Iran, and Pete Hegseth followed with boasts about what our military had destroyed. Iran did not carry out the September 11 attacks. Our grief does not give this administration permission to rewrite that history or turn a memorial into an argument for its war.
Condoleezza Rice spoke at the same ceremony about the lives behind the names, the futures that never happened, and the people left with an empty place in their hearts. She also acknowledged that those in authority had failed to see the danger in time and had not done enough. That admission landed on the day the CIA released 71 newly declassified reports showing warnings that reached our government before the attacks, though they did not specify exactly what would happen or when. In New York, the four living former presidents stood together at Ground Zero, where another moment of silence honored those who later died from 9/11-related illnesses. I kept thinking about the difference between honoring people and using them. I thought about firefighters climbing stairs, passengers on Flight 93 deciding together to fight back, and boat captains answering the call. I also thought about the Muslim, Arab, and Sikh neighbors we failed to protect. An honest remembrance has to hold all of that.
I remember holding my one-year-old in my arms as emails arrived from clients around the world asking whether we were safe. People believed America would get back up, and they wanted to help us stand because we had stood beside them. A year ago, I asked whether we were still the good guys. Watching this president punish allies and use a day of mourning to sell his war, I have my answer about the leadership representing us. But the people who choose strangers, neighbors, and country over themselves are still here. The courage of Flight 93 did not depend on loyalty to a president. Reclaiming that spirit means choosing decency again, protecting one another, and voting to end the cruelty done in our name.
See the full story in the video.
We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms.
Thank you for your continued support. Your paid subscriptions have enabled me to add a video editor and reach more people.
Independent media is under attack. You can make a difference with a $5/month paid subscription. Your support allows me to keep telling the truth about the lies and destruction unfolding in our country, defend myself from constant pressure from MAGA extremists, and ultimately spread the message to more people.
I’m fighting to save our country (before it’s too late).
I’ll see you tomorrow,
Heather
This video is based on my written post, available HERE, and based on the events of 9-11-2026.
This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment.
Sources:
9/11 25th Anniversary: Ground Zero Ceremony: YouTube Video
LIVE: Trump attends Pentagon commemoration of 9/11 attacks: YouTube
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/september-11-terrorist-attacks-25-years-memorial-2026-09-11/
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/us/2026-09-11/9-11-commemoration-new-york-pentagon-22821057.html
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6084687-trump-hegseth-iran-war-september-11/
https://www.newsweek.com/september-11-memorial-event-donald-trump-speech-live-12428593
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-to-watch-9-11-memorial-events-as-u-s-marks-25th-anniversary
https://www.fbi.gov/history/cases-and-criminals/911-investigation
