A statement from the US Embassy read, “The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions … Respect for religious beliefs is a cornerstone of American democracy. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Krauthammer reacted to the statement, calling it “an embarrassment.” He said, “That’s a hostage statement. That’s a mob of Al Qaeda sympathizers in Egypt, forcing the United States into making a statement essentially of apology, on 9/11 of all days, for something of which we are not responsible. I would issue a statement saying to the mob, ‘go to hell.’ The way America works, the way democracy works, is that everybody has a right to express themselves.”