What did George Bush do on the day of the 9/11 attacks?

ON the morning of September 11, 2001, President George Bush was participating in a reading demonstration at a school in Florida.

He could not have anticipated what would follow over the course of the day, as thousands were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania.

What did George Bush do on the day of the 9/11 attacks?

Former President George Bush learned of the attack while at a press conference at the Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida.

When the president learned of the 9/11 attack, the school subsequently turned into a makeshift command center.

He then gave a press release before evacuating the school. It is later revealed that he had landed at Louisiana’s Barksdale Air Force Base following a meeting with senior officials.

Back in Washington, his top advisor Karen Hughes insisted that the White House has the situation under control.

She said: “We have a federal emergency response plan and at President Bush's direction, we are implementing it.”

However by 8.30pm, Bush held another press release on the attack saying a search was underway for "those who are behind these evil acts."

What did President Bush say about the attack?

After getting word on the attack, Bush addressed America in a press conference around 9.30am saying that "terrorism against our nation will not stand."

After leaving for shelter, Bush pledged that the US would retaliate.

Bush said: "Make no mistake, the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."

During his speech in the evening, Bush said: "Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature.

"And we responded with the best of America — with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could."

He concluded the speech by saying: "America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time.

"None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world."

How many lives were lost during the 9/11 tragedy?

2,996 lives were claimed during the 9/11 tragedy, including the 19 hijackers, 2,606 were killed at the World Trade Center.

Over 300 firefighters died trying to save those in the burning towers.

184 civilians were killed during the 9/11 attack on The Pentagon.

Additionally, 40 individuals passed away from the United Airlines Flight 93 crash in Pennsylvania that day.