Twenty-five years after 9/11, George W. Bush is again spotlighting his message that “Islam is peace,” a line he first delivered from a Washington mosque days after the attacks.
Story Snapshot
- Bush’s 2001 remarks separated Islam from al Qaeda and called Islam a faith of peace.
- He echoed that message days later before Congress to calm fears at home and abroad.
- The Bush White House archived and repeated the language as policy guidance.
- In 2026, Bush said he stressed peace to protect Muslims from harassment.
What Bush Said In September 2001
On September 17, 2001, President George W. Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington. He said, “The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam… Islam is peace.” He added that terrorists represent “evil and war,” not the beliefs of millions of peaceful Muslims. The words aimed to draw a line between al Qaeda and Islam. They also asked Americans to judge people by actions, not by faith, in a tense and fearful week.
On September 20, 2001, Bush addressed a joint session of Congress. He again spoke directly to Muslims worldwide. He said the United States respected their faith, which teaches peace. He called the terrorists “traitors to their own faith” and made clear that America’s enemy was al Qaeda, not Muslims or Arabs as a whole. This language supported national unity. It also helped build support among Muslim allies needed for the fight against al Qaeda.
How The Message Became Part Of Policy
During the months after the attacks, the White House preserved and promoted this framing. A published question-and-answer page stated the conflict was not a war against Islam. It said Islam promotes peace, understanding, and justice, and it quoted Bush’s mosque remarks. The administration presented these points as guidance for the public and agencies. The aim was to hold firm against terrorists, while upholding American ideas of religious liberty.
On September 26, 2001, Bush met with Muslim leaders. He told them the “teachings of Islam are the teachings of peace and good.” He contrasted that with al Qaeda, which he described as an organization built on hate and evil. The meeting signaled outreach. It also showed continuity: the same line, the same clear split between a global terror group and a major world religion. That consistency reduced room for misread signals at home or abroad.
Why The Message Is Back In 2026
In 2026, Bush revisited the episode and said he made it clear that Islam was a religion of peace, not war. He said the attackers had subverted their religion. The phrasing is a common retelling of his 2001 line “Islam is peace.” The renewed focus lands as many Americans on the left and right feel elites ignore core freedoms. It also echoes a long-running choice by leaders to keep blame on terrorists and to protect the rights of peaceful worshippers.
Bush’s words sit inside a broader post-9/11 pattern. Leaders faced a real risk of backlash against Muslim Americans after the attacks. They also needed partners in Muslim-majority countries to fight al Qaeda. His speeches tried to meet both needs at once. They defended religious freedom at home and made clear who the enemy was. That careful line, first walked in 2001, still shapes how officials talk about terror and faith today.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov
