Repeats “Islam Is Peace” Message

Twenty-five years after 9/11, George W. Bush is again stressing that “Islam is peace,” reminding Americans why he drew a hard line between terrorists and a faith practiced by millions.

Story Snapshot

Bush said “Islam is peace” six days after 9/11 while visiting a Washington mosque.
He told Congress the terrorists betrayed their faith and that America respects Islam.
The White House archived and repeated this message as official policy language.
In 2026, Bush reaffirmed the stance and his aim to protect Muslim Americans.

What Bush Said Right After 9/11

On September 17, 2001, President George W. Bush stood at the Islamic Center of Washington and said, “Islam is peace.” He told Americans the terrorists did not reflect the true faith and called them agents of evil and war. He urged citizens to see Muslim neighbors as allies, not enemies. The message came amid grief and fear. It aimed to cool anger, stop harassment, and focus blame on al Qaeda, not on a religion or a people.

Three days later, on September 20, Bush addressed a joint session of Congress. He again drew a clear line. He said America respects Islam and called its teachings “good and peaceful.” He said the terrorists were traitors to their own faith and that America’s enemy was not Muslims or Arabs, but a network that hated freedom. This language served a dual goal. It sought unity at home and support abroad for the fight against al Qaeda.

How The Administration Locked In The Message

The Bush White House kept this framing in official documents. A national security frequently asked questions page said the war was not against Islam and that Islam promotes peace, justice, and understanding. The page echoed Bush’s mosque remarks, stating that the attacks violated the core tenets of Islam. The administration also compiled quotes on Islam that stressed religious freedom and tolerance as American values, tying the rhetoric to policy outreach after the attacks.

Later in September 2001, Bush met with Muslim leaders and repeated the theme. He said the teachings of Islam are teachings of peace and good, and he named al Qaeda as an organization built on hate and evil. The language helped build a broad coalition. It signaled to partners in Muslim-majority countries that the United States sought to isolate terrorists, not a faith. At home, it backed law enforcement focus on criminal suspects, not entire communities.

Why This Matters In 2026

In 2026, Bush revisited the moment and said he made clear that Islam is a religion of peace and that terrorists had subverted their faith. The recollection tracks with his 2001 words and later records. It also fits the pattern leaders often use after attacks. Officials try to stop backlash against innocent people while holding violent actors to account. The aim is both moral and practical: protect civil rights and keep allies in the wider fight.

On Islam in America: Post-9/11 Political Chaos and Trumpism

America’s relationship with Islam after September 11, 2001, began in a contradiction. The country had suffered a mass murder committed in the name of Islam, yet millions of Muslim Americans grieved with the rest of the…

— Matthew Chenoweth Wright, CEO of Monolithic LLC (@enuminous) September 11, 2026

Americans across the spectrum worry about government spin, culture wars, and elites who dodge hard truths. Yet this episode shows a basic civic choice. Leaders can condemn killers without condemning a faith. Bush’s quotes were not about sweeping hurt under the rug. They were about channeling rage toward the guilty and away from neighbors. That distinction supported national unity then, and it still tests our commitment to liberty and equal justice now.