George W. Bush informed of September 11 attacks during Florida school visit

Footage from September 11, 2001, captures the moment former U.S. President George W. Bush was informed of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers while visiting Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida.

During a second-grade reading demonstration, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card whispered to the President: “A second plane has hit the second tower. America is under attack.” Witnesses, including former student Krystal Davis, noted a sudden change in Bush's demeanor. Davis observed that after receiving the news, Bush appeared to mask his reaction to avoid alarming the children, smiling as if to say, “I don’t want to worry the children.”

The students in the classroom were unaware of the gravity of the situation at the time, questioning why the President's behavior had shifted during the reading session. Bush had been at the school to discuss education policy and the “No Child Left Behind” Act.