A widow who lost her husband in the 9/11 terrorist attacks slammed President Joe Biden for his recent comments in which he said he would “do 9/11.”
Biden made his comment the day before the 23-year anniversary of the historic attack on the United States, which was marked on Wednesday by two people reading the names of 9/11 victims onstage. The president was in attendance for the ceremony, which also featured the attendance of former President Donald Trump, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Vice President Kamala Harris.
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“The elected officials here today show their respect and reverence to the families on Sept. 11 or, in our president’s words, ‘do 9/11,’” said Joanne Barbara, the widow. “Quite a flippant remark.”
Her comments were preceded by her explaining how the 9/11 attacks took the life of her husband, who was the chief of the New York City Fire Department. She then referenced the short-lived plea deal the Department of Defense reached earlier this year with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a 9/11 terrorist attack mastermind, and two others before it was revoked by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
“It is outrageous that our government would ever entertain the thought of granting the terrorists a plea deal. If not for the outcry of the 9/11 community, who knows what might have transpired? It has been 23 years, and the families deserve justice and accountability,” she said, drawing widespread applause from the audience.
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She concluded her speech by asking God to bless those fighting post-9/11 illnesses, as well as to bless the first responders and members of the military. Earlier this year, the total number of FDNY deaths due to related illnesses after the terrorist attacks reached 377, surpassing the 343 FDNY officials who died on the day of the attacks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 400,000 people were “exposed to toxic contaminants, risk of physical injury, and physically and emotionally stressful conditions” following 9/11.