U.S. President Donald Trump shared a detailed but unverifiable account this week of an incident he experienced near Ground Zero following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in downtown Manhattan. During an event organized by a Sept. 11 foundation in Washington, D.C., Trump described being close to One Liberty Plaza when the adjacent United States Steel building was making creaking sounds, causing concern that it might collapse. Trump recalled feeling as though the building was about to fall on him, prompting two firefighters to lift him to safety.
This isn’t the first time Trump has recounted this event. In a speech during his 2016 presidential campaign in New Hampshire, he mentioned a similar incident, emphasizing that he was not inside the building at the time. Critics have scrutinized Trump for several claims he has made regarding his experiences during the 9/11 attacks, accusing him of seeking personal gain from the tragedy.
Democratic Rep. Jason Crow, a former U.S. army member who served in Afghanistan and Iraq post-9/11, criticized Trump’s recent remarks, stating that the day of remembrance should not be about the president. Trump has faced backlash for claiming that he witnessed “thousands and thousands of people cheering” the attacks in New Jersey and suggesting he lost “hundreds of friends” during the tragedy, assertions that have raised eyebrows due to their questionable accuracy.
Trump’s involvement in post-9/11 activities, including his presence near Ground Zero and his purported assistance in recovery efforts, has been met with skepticism. Despite Trump’s claims, there is limited evidence to support his assertions of active participation in the aftermath of the attacks. Trump is set to speak at a commemorative event at the Pentagon on the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.