9/11 families vs Saudi Arabia: Will Riyadh finally face trial? What the lawsuit says, what the families want Trump to do

Almost 25 years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the victims’ families are still waiting for their long-running legal battle against Saudi Arabia to come to trial.

A federal appeals court in New York heard arguments on Wednesday (7 October) over whether the kingdom should remain a defendant in a lawsuit alleging that individuals linked to the Saudi government aided some of the 19 al-Qaida hijackers.

The three-judge panel did not immediately rule on whether the case could proceed. But the hearing gave the families a new opportunity to demand accountability — and to call on President Donald Trump to put pressure on Riyadh.

More than 100 relatives of 9/11 victims attended the hearing in lower Manhattan, according to accounts provided.

The judges asked “really meaningful questions” and challenged Saudi lawyers, Terry Strada, whose husband Tom was killed in the attacks, said after the hearing.

What does the 9/11 lawsuit allege?

The civil lawsuits, first filed in 2004, involve hundreds of victims’ relatives and injured survivors, as well as insurance companies and businesses.

At the heart of the claim is the allegation that Saudi government employees or officials knowingly aided members of the 9/11 plot and helped create an environment in which al-Qaeda could operate and thrive.

Prosecutors say individuals linked to Saudi Arabia provided support to at least two of the 19 hijackers who ultimately carried out the attacks.

The lawsuits also allege that extremist religious figures in Saudi Arabia aided the hijackers and that charities linked to Saudi Arabia helped provide money and other support to people linked to al-Qaeda.

Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia. However, Saudi Arabia has consistently denied that its government was involved in the attacks.

The attacks killed 2,977 people when hijacked planes crashed into New York’s World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania.

Other defendants in the broader lawsuit, including Iran, the Taliban and al-Qaeda, have already been found in default.

Why is Saudi Arabia trying to escape the case?

The latest legal battle centers on sovereign immunity — the principle that foreign governments are generally protected from being sued in U.S. courts.

Saudi lawyers say the kingdom should be excluded from the case because it is a sovereign state and that the charges do not overcome that immunity.

They also pointed to the US-Saudi relationship in the 1990s, claiming Washington and Riyadh were partners in efforts against terrorism and al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs disagree. They say the evidence and allegations are sufficient for Saudi Arabia to face a civil lawsuit in a US court.

The appeals court hearing followed an August 2025 decision by U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels to allow the case to continue in federal court. Importantly, Daniels did not rule that Saudi Arabia was responsible or that the allegations were proven; his decision concerned whether the lawsuit could proceed.

Whether this decision is valid must now be decided by the Court of Appeal.

What could happen next?

The justices did not say when they would issue their decision.

If Saudi Arabia succeeds, the kingdom could be removed from the case before the families have a chance to present the charges in court.

If the families prevail, the dispute could move forward, potentially forcing Saudi Arabia to continue to defend itself against allegations that its officials or agents aided the 9/11 hijackers.

This would not mean that Saudi Arabia was found responsible for the attacks. It would only mean that the plaintiffs’ claims could go to trial in the US.

For the families, the distinction is important: after decades of litigation, they say they want the opportunity to prove the facts in court.

Read also | October 7th Attack, 3 Years After: What Did Israel Go Wrong? The expert explains

What do 9/11 families want Trump to do?

The families are also demanding action from President Donald Trump.

After Wednesday’s hearing, relatives urged Trump to pressure the Saudi government to apologize and support the victims’ efforts to hold Riyadh accountable.

Aaron Sand, whose father died in the attacks, appealed directly to the president.

“President Trump, I love you, but you’re not doing enough,” Sand said.

He called on Trump to give priority to the families who lost relatives in the attacks, saying that Saudi Arabia’s status as a US ally should not prevent victims from seeking accountability.

Brett Eagleson, whose father Bruce was killed on 9/11, also asked where the president and Congress stand.

“We’re about a month away from the midterm elections. Where are the members of Congress? Where is the president of the United States? Will he stand with the families or the kingdom of Saudi Arabia?” Eagleson asked.

Strada similarly said the administration could intervene politically and called for the kingdom to be held accountable.

“As an American, a patriot, I want to see the right thing done,” she said.

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