A former senior official from the DGSE (France’s external security service), Yves Trotignon, has argued that the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States initiated a period of ongoing terrorist threat for Western nations. In an interview with *Le Monde*, Trotignon detailed how the subsequent prolonged military conflicts fundamentally altered Western societies. He contends that these lengthy wars resulted in the erosion of “certain forms of the rule of law.” Trotignon suggests that the fatigue with these ongoing engagements contributed to the election of Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise to end them. The attacks on the United States therefore led to a complex cycle of security measures and political consequences. He suggests the events of 9/11 continue to reverberate through global politics and security landscapes today.