Moments after the 22nd anniversary of the moment a second plane plummeted into the World Trade Center, a Biden administration official publicly lauded Saudi Arabia in a social media post published on Monday.
“We welcome this weekend’s announcement by Saudi Arabia committing $20 billion to support President Biden’s signature initiative, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure (PGI),” National Security Council representative Adrienne Watson posted at 9:23 a.m.
On 9/11, the Trade Center’s South Tower was struck at 9:03 a.m., while the Pentagon was hit at 9:37 a.m., according to CBS.
We welcome this weekend’s announcement by Saudi Arabia committing $20 billion to support President Biden’s signature initiative, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure (PGI).
— Adrienne Watson (@NSC_Spox) September 11, 2023
According to NPR, a 2016 report found connections between Saudi nationals and the 9/11 perpetrators. The document is now classified.
With this as the setting. The praise for the Saudis sparked outrage on social media, with one critic observing, “9/11 is not the time to discuss this,” and another exclaiming, “How tone deaf…”
9/11 shouldn't be the day to talk about this……
— Ali (@MerruX) September 11, 2023
How tone deaf is this admin. Couldn’t wait a day?
— GatorBait76 (@GBait76) September 11, 2023
Why post this today?
— Alec Sears (@alec_sears) September 11, 2023
was there literally no other day you could announce this?
— Abigail Jackson 🇺🇸 (@abigailmarone) September 11, 2023
Name an administration more tone-deaf than this one.
She posted this on *9/11* https://t.co/HDPFBGgzPS
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) September 11, 2023
According to the New York Post, family members of the deceased believe that the Saudi connection must be resolved for them to have closure.
“We’re tired of having to fight this fight,” said Brett Eagleson, head of 9/11 Justice. “We would just love for a president to demand that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia admit fault and be held accountable.”
“Not only are we fighting the Saudi government, we’re fighting our own government,” said Dennis McGinley, whose brother died on 9/11.
“It’s like our government is helping the murderers,” he said.
Eagleson said he was disturbed that President Joe Biden will be in Alaska instead of one of the hallowed sites of 9/11 on Monday.
“It just sends a very, very concerning signal,” Eagleson said.