President Trump went off on the New York Times, fact-checking their reporting about the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and his account of the aftermath of the attacks, which the outlet described as “evolving and “often disputed.”
The Times published a story claiming that Trump was never at ground zero, citing comments from retired New York Fire Department deputy chief Richard Alles that he “never witnessed [Trump].” It also centered around Trump’s comments at Tuesday’s Steel Across America event on the White House Ellipse, arguing the President “left the impression that he had been at the site in the immediate aftermath,” and that “two large firefighters picked him up and took him to safety.” Meanwhile, left-wing independent journalist and clip farmer Aaron Rupar said in an X post, “Trump claims he was basically lifted out of the rubble on 9/11.”
Trump told the crowd that the United States Steel Building, now known as 1 Liberty Plaza, “was creaking, really creaking, and we thought it was going to fall down.” He continued, “And I’ll never forget two firemen. We thought it was coming down on top of us, and two firemen, big strong guys. And I’m not the smallest guy in the world. They grabbed me under the arm, said, ‘Got to get out of here.’ And they literally lifted me up. This is not easy to do. I’m big. They lifted me up, and they started running with me. I said, ‘Fellas, I can run myself,’ but they were amazing.”
WATCH:
Trump has also told this story during a 2016 campaign speech, noting he was there “a couple of days after” when “everybody thought that the US Steel building was coming down, and it was not so far from us.”
“The Failing New York Magazine wrote a story that I wasn’t down at the World Trade Center after the Tragedy of September 11th, because nobody saw me there,” Trump said in response to the New York Times’ claim. “Well, I don’t think I would be the first thing on anyone’s mind but, I was there, obviously not on the same day as the collapse, but shortly thereafter, with a large group of Construction Workers. I discussed it today during my Remarks on the Ellipse, in Washington, D.C., for Tunnel to Towers.”
He further shared various video clips and photos of himself on the ground near the site of the attack.
In one clip, the President is seen speaking to reporters on September 13th, 2001, saying he was “just down to Ground Zero” of the attack and that it was a “disaster.”
In another clip from September 13th, Trump is seen discussing the attack and its impact on the city at Ground Zero. The news chyron notes that the top floors of 1 Liberty Plaza in New York were “buckling,” corroborating the President’s statements about the US Steel building creaking and their belief that it would collapse.
Trump also responded to another New York Times piece about the President’s visit to the Pentagon on Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary, while Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to represent the White House in New York City. The report, contributed to by Maggie Haberman, claims that Trump is going to the Pentagon instead of New York because “he wanted to deliver a speech and the annual event has long barred remarks.”
“On another September 11th front,” Trump said, “Maggot Hagerman continues to say that I did not go to the New York World Trade Center event, but the Pentagon instead, because they wouldn’t let me speak in New York.”
“Hagerman, unattractive both inside and out, fully knows that her story is made up. She knows less about me than the average reporter “on the beat.” I haven’t spoken to her in a long time, and certainly there was no ‘fact checking’ for her story — There never is! Let her reveal her sources, because they don’t exist,” Trump added, slamming the report as “Fake News” demanding a retraction from the “angry” and “sick” journalists.
Full statement below:
The Failing New York Magazine wrote a story that I wasn’t down at the World Trade Center after the Tragedy of September 11th, because nobody saw me there. Well, I don’t think I would be the first thing on anyone’s mind but, I was there, obviously not on the same day as the collapse, but shortly thereafter, with a large group of Construction Workers. I discussed it today during my Remarks on the Ellipse, in Washington, D.C., for Tunnel to Towers.
Everything I said was exactly accurate and, to prove the point, I am attaching clips of me there with numerous of my people, including my then Head of Security, Matthew Calamari, who has confirmed that very sad trip to Lower Manhattan, many times, to many different Journalists, but it’s a story that just won’t die. The Fake News doesn’t want to listen, even when they know their story is false. That’s why their approval ratings are at an All Time LOW, but mine are VERY HIGH!
On another September 11th front, Maggot Hagerman continues to say that I did not go to the New York World Trade Center event, but the Pentagon instead, because they wouldn’t let me speak in New York. Maggot knows that this is a lie! I have been to the New York solemn ceremony numerous times, and nobody speaks. It is a stated fact that, “Politicians and public officials are not permitted to deliver speeches or remarks at the official September 11 anniversary remembrance ceremony at the World Trade Center site in New York.”
Certainly I would not want to violate that, even if I could. I speak enough, and it just so happens that the strong request was made for me to be at the Pentagon instead, with VP Vance handling our Administration’s representation in New York. Hagerman, unattractive both inside and out, fully knows that her story is made up. She knows less about me than the average reporter “on the beat.” I haven’t spoken to her in a long time, and certainly there was no “fact checking” for her story — There never is! Let her reveal her sources, because they don’t exist.
Again, speeches are not made at the New York event and, even if they were, I never asked to speak. Fake News is getting worse and worse in the U.S.A. It’s very important to comment so that people understand what liars and scoundrels these so-called “journalists” are. They’re angry, and sick, over the fact that I won the Presidential Election three times! I hereby demand a retraction from Maggot, and also, for whoever wrote the fake story for New York Magazine. Again, check out the clips of me at the World Trade Center site. I was there as soon as the Law allowed. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
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