‘We can never forget’: Trump speaks at Pentagon to honor victims, first responders, American heroes of 9/11 terror attacks

"Twenty-five times we have gathered at this hallowed place, and at Ground Zero in New York, and a lonely field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In 25 years, a generation has passed since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Yet time has not dimmed the honor of that day when our country came face to face with true evil at 8:20 am on a cloudless Tuesday morning," Trump said to start the speech.

He recounted the stories of some of those who lost their lives in the two towers, at the Pentagon, and in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

"So many wars have been won from this building. With the events of that morning, 2,977 beautiful souls were ripped from our world, and many more died in the weeks and years after horrible, grotesque injuries. So many were sustained," Trump added. "Today, we renew the sacred oath that we first swore in their names a quarter of a century ago: We will never, ever forget. That’s why we fight today. We don’t have a choice. There can only be victory. We fight hard. We fight to win. We will always remember the victims and the families of Sept. 11, 2001."

He told the story of Patrick Danahy, who left a voicemail for his wife telling her that he was ok in the South Tower after the North Tower was hit. When his wife called back, however, the line went dead as the second plane struck. "Free people must never avert their eyes from such hideous cruelty. We cannot forget that moment of immense and horrible evil that took place in this world, bent on the destruction of all that is good," he added.

"At the Pentagon on Sept. 12, Gen. James Jackson ordered up the largest flag in the military’s collection, and they think in the military’s history. First responders climbed to the top of the walls and hung it next to the gaping holes in this building as a symbol of American defiance," Trump added about the aftermath of Flight 77 hitting the Pentagon.

He told the story of Todd Beamer, who, along with a flight attendant on Flight 93, fought back against terrorists who took over the plane before it crashed in Pennsylvania. Beamer asked the 911 operator to say the Lord's prayer with him before he and the others on the plane foiled the plans of the terrorists to strike either the White House or the Capitol building with the plane.

Trump honored those who gave their lives that day as well as those in the military who have served against the war on terror. During the speech, he also made mention of Iran as the top sponsor of terror in the world and said that the regime will "never, ever, have a nuclear weapon."

"No one can ever prepare for a day like 9/11, but we can always choose to be the kind of nation the world saw in those days after," the president later added. "As Scripture tells us, the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Sept. 11 reminded us of the terrible power of hate. The 25 years since have shown us the even greater power of the American spirit to endure and prevail and to win, and today our country is stronger than it has ever been before. It has never been as strong as it is right now. Because of that spirit, when future generations come here in 25, 100, or 250 years from now, they will stand in a nation that is free and unyielding in the face of evil, and they will still honor the heroes of 9/11/2001, who no age will erase from the memory of time. It will never ever be forgotten. It will never be forgotten. And we can never forget. God bless our 9/11 families. God bless our unbelievable, brave, and beautiful first responders. God bless the United States military, and God bless America. Thank you very much.”