George W. Bush and Key Figures on 9/11: Where They Stand Now
President George W. Bush was elected in 2000. He ran on domestic issues.
The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, changed everything. His new administration was only nine months old. The attacks were an unexpected test. The decisions made that day still matter today.
Bush's approval rating jumped to 90% in late September 2001. The country rallied around its leader. He visited the rubble in New York City. He announced the start of the Global War on Terror.
Troops entered Afghanistan by October of that year. They hunted down al Qaida cells. Bush later accused Saddam Hussein of having weapons of mass destruction. The invasion of Iraq boosted his rating to 71% in March 2003.
The war in Iraq became very controversial. Years of fighting and rising costs hurt his standing. The Great Recession also played a part. By November 2008, his approval rating had crumbled to just 28%.
After Barack Obama took office, Bush stepped back. He stayed out of the political stage. He did speak out on some issues. He called Obama's troop withdrawal from Iraq a "strategic blunder" in 2011.
He did not endorse Donald Trump in 2016 or 2020.
He did hold a virtual fundraiser for two senators in 2020. He condemned the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. He also condemned the attempt to kill Trump in 2024.
Bush found a new hobby after leaving the White House. He started painting. He got the idea from Winston Churchill. He read an essay called "Painting as a Pastime."
Vice President Dick Cheney was another key figure. The Washington Examiner notes that several figures remain well-known. Others have faded into relative obscurity. The story of that day is still being told.
The leadership challenge was the worst in U.S. history. The impact of those choices lasts 25 years later. The country watched as these leaders made hard calls.
One quote from that chaotic morning stands out. The second tower was struck by another plane, signaling that America faces an attack. Another warning came later about the danger of inaction.
These words defined a new era for the nation.