Calls for Accountability as MBS Visits Washington
As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) heads to the capital on Tuesday, a group of 9/11 survivors, first responders, and families of missing persons are urging President Trump to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its involvement in the September 11 attacks of 2021.
Recently, U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels made a ruling that challenged Saudi Arabia’s attempts to dismiss a lawsuit filed by families of 9/11 victims, who claim the country was complicit in the attacks. The decision to bring the case to trial aligns with a previous judgment from August 2025, where the judge noted that Saudi government officials had provided “vital support” to the hijackers.
“This visit highlights the recent federal ruling stating that Saudi Arabia must face trial regarding its role in the September 11 terrorist attacks that took the lives of 3,000 people we loved,” said attorney Brett Eagleson, who lost his father in the attacks. “While Washington is set to welcome the Saudi crown prince, we want to bring attention to the facts laid out in court—there is overwhelming evidence of Saudi involvement in the 9/11 conspiracy, and our family has been fighting for justice for nearly 25 years.”
Last week, another organization, 9/11 Families United, echoed similar sentiments in calling for accountability from Trump regarding Saudi Arabia.
Fox News Digital reached out for comments from both the Saudi embassy and the White House but did not receive a response prior to publication.
The ongoing legal struggle dates back to 2002, and the recent ruling by Judge Daniels is a part of this long saga. Although the Saudi government maintains that no officials directed the hijackers, Daniels suggested there was likely some connection to Saudi individuals.
Key figures in the case include Omar al-Bayoumi and Sheikh al-Fahd Thumari, who are accused by 9/11 victims of aiding the hijackers. Allegations against Bayoumi state he assisted the hijackers in securing an apartment, according to declassified FBI documents. He contends that helping newcomers find housing is customary in Islamic societies.
Additionally, evidence suggests Bayoumi traveled to Washington, D.C., with two Saudi officials employed by the embassy. These officials had connections to Thumari, who met them at an Islamic event in Los Angeles between late 1998 and early 1999. Daniels noted that the two spent time in Los Angeles before heading to San Diego, where they stayed with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, considered the mastermind behind the attacks.
In a follow-up, correspondence from Bayoumi to Thumari thanked him for coordinating the trip. Bayoumi, who left the U.S. for Saudi Arabia just before the attacks, is suspected of meeting the hijackers when they arrived in California in early 2000, although he denies the accusations despite being photographed with them. In 2001, federal agents found Bayoumi with notes detailing airplane drawings and notes related to aviation.
Upcoming Meeting with MBS
President Trump is expected to meet with MBS on Tuesday as improving diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia remains a priority for his administration. Trump visited the country in May, marking his first major overseas trip during his second term.
“I’m hopeful that Saudi Arabia will soon commit to the Abraham Accords,” Trump mentioned, sharing his optimism ahead of the conference.
