At the Pentagon, Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that “evil did not get the last word,” honoring the 184 Americans murdered there on 9/11 and urging vigilance today.
Story Highlights
- Secretary Pete Hegseth led the Pentagon’s 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony, honoring victims and families.
- Hegseth cited 184 lives lost at the Pentagon and nearly 3,000 nationwide on 9/11.
- President Trump and senior military leaders joined the observance, underscoring its official standing.
- The department’s transcripts page had not posted a same-day official text, while multiple videos documented the remarks.
Hegseth Leads Solemn Pentagon Remembrance
On September 11, 2026, Secretary Pete Hegseth opened the Pentagon’s 25th anniversary observance, welcoming survivors, families, service members, and guests. He honored those lost and those who carry their memory, stating that the nation “never forgets.” Video records show Hegseth serving as the principal speaker and framing the day with clear remembrance language for attendees at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. President Trump and senior defense leaders were present, marking the event’s high-level and official stature.
Hegseth referenced the exact toll at the Pentagon, saying Islamic terrorists murdered 184 Americans at that site on 9/11. He placed the attack within the larger tragedy, noting nearly 3,000 total murdered that day in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Those figures align with long-standing memorial counts used by presidents and defense leaders at prior ceremonies, including remarks by previous administrations that cited the Pentagon’s 184 fallen while emphasizing national resolve.
‘Evil Did Not Get the Last Word’ and A Call to Vigilance
Hegseth’s message stressed remembrance and continued vigilance. He framed the duty of the living as guarding freedom, supporting the military, and standing firm against terror. He honored first responders, Gold Star families, and those still serving. His tone echoed the established pattern of Pentagon observances, which mix mourning with a charge to defend the nation. The speech fit a stable genre that links 9/11 sacrifice to present defense readiness and the need to deter future attacks.
Coverage around the event highlighted how memorial speeches often intersect with current security themes. Recent and past leaders have paired remembrance with warnings about threats and the need for strength. That pattern aims to keep the lessons of 9/11 active in policy and culture, not just history. While the heart of the day is honoring the fallen, officials also use the moment to reinforce unity, mission focus, and the resolve to stop another attack before it starts.
Attendance Underscores Official Weight of the Ceremony
Event footage and listings show a formal program hosted at the Pentagon, with President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs among the leaders present. The setting, the memorial wall, and the assembled families and troops gave the ceremony solemn gravity. The Pentagon observance has long served as a national touchstone. Leaders return each year to read names, lay wreaths, and reaffirm the promise that America remembers and defends its people.
President Trump, in his 9/11 ceremony speech at the Pentagon, declares: "We salute the service members working right now to ensure the world's number one sponsor of terror, the Islamic Republic of Iran, will never ever have a nuclear weapon." https://t.co/i4hUHUVOxr pic.twitter.com/DW0EhhVlsO
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) September 11, 2026
Multiple videos captured Hegseth’s remarks and the ceremony flow. The department’s transcripts page did not yet display a same-day official text, but the video record shows the central quotes, the 184 figure, and the remembrance theme. That record, consistent across several uploads, anchors the day’s facts. The focus remained clear: honor the fallen, comfort the families, and commit to protecting the nation so their memory guides a safer future for all Americans.
Sources:
youtube.com, war.gov, fox29.com
