Americans 'don't pay attention to lesson of 9/11,' former US president Bush says - report

Former US President George W. Bush said Americans are not paying attention to the lesson of 9/11, as the US marks 25 years since the attacks. Speaking at his presidential library in Dallas with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush warned against isolationism and argued that events overseas directly affect US national security. He recalled the aftermath of the attacks and expressed concern about the Taliban regaining control of Afghanistan.

Former US President George W. Bush said Americans are not paying attention to the lesson of 9/11, as the US marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Speaking at his presidential library in Dallas on September 9, 2026, alongside former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Bush warned against isolationist sentiment. "Our nation occasionally goes through isolationist periods," he said, arguing that events overseas directly affect US national security. Bush recalled being nearly eight months into his first term when al-Qaeda launched the attack, killing thousands. He reflected on becoming a wartime president, visiting Ground Zero three days later, and visiting a mosque shortly after the attacks to counter harassment of Muslim Americans. Rice recalled the difficulty of decisions under pressure, including a moment when officials feared they had shot down a civilian aircraft. Bush expressed concern about the Taliban regaining control of Afghanistan after US withdrawal, and defended the belief that people everywhere want freedom. The article reports Bush's remarks without editorial commentary.