Photos show the moment President George W. Bush first learned of the 9/11 attacks — and how the president's day unfolded

Sep 11, 2026 07:18 PM - 4 days ago 6

Bush 9-11 Air Force One telephone call(DC)

President George W. Bush connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

On Tuesday, September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush was visiting an simple schoolhouse and reference to the children erstwhile the 2nd level deed the World Trade Center successful New York City.

The schoolhouse turned into a makeshift bid center, and the president addressed the federation from the schoolhouse earlier boarding Air Force One to get to a unafraid location.

These photos from the US National Archives show really the 43rd president's time unfolded connected 9/11.

President George W. Bush participated successful a reference objection connected the greeting of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, astatine Emma E. Booker Elementary School successful Sarasota, Florida.

9-11 Classroom Bush (DC)

President George W. Bush astatine Emma E. Booker Elementary School successful Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives

Bush watched tv sum of the attacks connected the World Trade Center during a briefing successful the classroom.

9-11 Bush TV news (DC)

President George W. Bush during a briefing successful a schoolroom astatine Emma E. Booker Elementary School successful Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives

Bush took notes arsenic he listened to news sum of the World Trade Center violent attacks.

9-11 Bush schoolroom notes (DC)

President George W. Bush responded to the 9/11 violent attacks from Emma E. Booker Elementary School successful Sarasota, Florida. US National Archives

Bush called New York Gov. George Pataki, FBI Director Robert Mueller, and Vice President Dick Cheney. White House Chief of Staff Andy Card said connected a cellphone.

Bush 9-11 telephone telephone (DC)

President George W. Bush connected the telephone connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

A road motion connected Tuesday, September 11, 2001, read, "All crossings to New York closed."

9-11 NY motion (DC)

A road motion connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Bush watched tv sum of the violent attacks connected the World Trade Center from his agency aboard Air Force One.

Bush 9-11 Air Force One (DC)

President George W. Bush aboard Air Force One connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Bush conferred pinch White House Chief of Staff Andy Card successful the president's stateroom connected Air Force One.

Bush Andy Card 9-11 (DC)

President George W. Bush pinch White House Chief of Staff Andy Card aboard Air Force One connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Bush said pinch his unit by telephone arsenic Air Force One flew from Sarasota to Barksdale Air Force Base successful Louisiana.

Bush 9-11 Air Force One telephone call(DC)

President George W. Bush connected the telephone from his agency aboard Air Force One connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Senior unit huddled successful Bush's agency aboard the statesmanlike jet.

Bush 9-11 huddle (DC)

President George W. Bush pinch unit successful his agency aboard Air Force One. US National Archives

Bush and his unit looked retired the windows of Air Force One astatine their F-16 escort while en way to Barksdale Air Force Base.

Bush 9-11 Air unit one(DC)

President Bush pinch unit members aboard Air Force One. US National Archives

An F-16 combatant pitchy escorted Air Force One.

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An F-16 flew alongside Air Force One connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Offutt is simply a highly unafraid underground bid halfway that tin withstand a atomic attack.

Bush 9-11 get Nebraska (DC)

President George W. Bush walked disconnected Air Force One astatine Offutt Air Force Base successful Nebraska. He didn't instantly spell to Washington, DC, arsenic it was nether threat. US National Archives

Bush, Adm. Richard Mies, and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card conducted a video teleconference astatine the base.

Bush Miles Card convention 9-11 (DC)

President George W. Bush, Adm. Richard Mies (left), and White House Chief of Staff Andy Card astatine Offutt Air Force Base. US National Archives

Back connected Air Force One, Bush and White House counsel Harriet Miers linked arms arsenic the level headed to Andrews Air Force Base successful Maryland.

Bush 9-11 Harriet Miles (DC)

President George W. Bush and Harriet Miers aboard Air Force One. US National Archives

Bush said pinch Ari Fleischer and Karl Rove aboard Air Force One during the flight.

Bush 9-11, Ari Fleischer, Karl Rove, Air Force One (DC)

President George W. Bush pinch Ari Fleischer (left) and Karl Rove aboard Air Force One. US National Archives

After departing Offutt Air Force Base for Washington, DC, Bush said connected the telephone pinch Vice President Dick Cheney from Air Force One.

Bush 9-11 Cheney (DC)

President George W. Bush connected the telephone pinch Vice President Dick Cheney from Air Force One. US National Archives

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice waited astatine the South Portico for Bush to get astatine the White House.

Condoleezza Rice 9-11 (DC)

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice astatine the White House connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Counselor Karen Hughes and counsel Alberto Gonzales followed Bush into the Oval Office aft his return to the White House.

Bush 9-11 Counsel (DC)

Counselor Karen Hughes and Counsel Alberto Gonzales pinch President George W. Bush astatine the White House. US National Archives

Working pinch his elder staff, Bush reviewed the reside he would present to the federation that evening.

Bush 9-11 reside reappraisal (DC)

President George W. Bush pinch unit members astatine the White House. US National Archives

Bush said pinch Cheney successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a unafraid bunker located beneath the White House.

Bush Cheney 9-11 Operations Room(DC)

President George W. Bush pinch Vice President Dick Cheney successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

Laura Bush was besides brought to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center.

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First woman Laura Bush successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center connected September 11, 2001. US National Archives

The president and first woman said pinch Cheney and Rice successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center.

Bush 9-11 Laura, Rice (DC)

President George W. Bush and Laura Bush pinch Vice President Dick Cheney and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. US National Archives

Bush besides met pinch Special Agent Carl Truscott of the US Secret Service.

Bush 9-11 gathering (DC)

President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Chief of Staff Andy Card, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and Special Agent Carl Truscott of the US Secret Service successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. US National Archives

Bush reviewed notes pinch Hughes earlier addressing the federation from the Oval Office.

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President George W. Bush pinch Karen Hughes successful the Oval Office. US National Archives

Bush delivered his televised address, saying, "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the alloy of American resolve."

Bush 9-11 Address (DC)

President George W. Bush addressed the federation from the Oval Office connected the evening of September 11, 2001. US National Archives

After addressing the nation, Bush returned to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center to meet pinch members of his National Security Council.

Bush 9-11 gathering (DC)

President George W. Bush pinch members of his National Security Council successful the Presidential Emergency Operations Center of the White House. US National Archives

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David Choi was a erstwhile Insider elder news newsman based successful California, covering overseas affairs and politics. He profiled Democratic presidential candidates successful the 2020 election, interviewed pardoned war criminals, and covered the Trump administration. Choi antecedently served successful the US Army and California Army National Guard. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, wherever he majored successful governmental science.

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