Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani won an international acclaim for his steady leadership in the aftermath of September 11, helping pull the city through its darkest hour.

But he still has questions.

“It was an attack that leaves us, even today, wondering, ‘Why did it happen?’” he said.

Giuliani held a news conference Friday to share his reflections on the eve of the 21st anniversary of the attacks.

He wondered whether Americans could unify in the same way given today’s political climate.

“With all of the division and all of the turmoil we have, could we do it again?” he asked. “All of a sudden, our country was in mortal peril. And everything stopped and we all came together. I think that would happen again.”

Giuliani has played his own role in the sowing division. As former President Donald Trump’s personal attorney, he peddled baseless conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and riled up the crowds outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

It’s domestic threats, largely from right-wing extremists, that have concerned law enforcement in recent years. But Giuliani believes Islamic terrorists are plotting to strike again.

“All the other things we have to worry about, this has to be right near the top: another attack by Islamic extremist terrorists,” he said. “It’s something they’re planning to do.”

Meanwhile, some September 11 families are angry about an upcoming women’s golf tournament at Trump Golf Links in the Bronx because of the tournament’s ties to the Saudi Arabian government.

Given Saudi ties to September 11, some want the tournament canceled. Giuliani has no problem with it, saying it wasn’t the Saudi government behind the attacks.

“I can understand why the families feel that way. But I would ask them to consider the fact that Saudi Arabia is a very valuable ally in many respects for us against Islamic extremist terrorism,” he said. “I think golf tournaments are golf tournaments and these are not the people that were involved in it.

When NY1 asked Giuliani how long to continue the name-reading ceremony that takes place every year on the anniversary, he didn’t have an answer.

“There should be something that remembers it. I mean, if I were the president, I’d make it a national holiday. But I’m not the president,” he said, adding with a laugh. “I tried.”