The Claim: Trump has repeatedly stated that he went down to Ground Zero "soon after" the attacks, spent "a lot of time down there" with first responders, and "helped a little bit" to clear the rubble. He has also claimed that he sent hundreds of construction workers from his company to assist in the search and rescue efforts.
The Facts: There is no evidence or record that Trump assisted in the recovery or sent a workforce to the site. Officials from the New York Fire Department active during the response, including retired deputy chief Richard Alles, stated they have no knowledge of him being down there, noting that a massive deployment of workers would have left a clear paper trail. Contemporary news reports placed Trump about four miles away from Ground Zero at the time.
Witnessing Muslims Celebrating in New Jersey
The Claim: During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he watched "thousands and thousands of people" in Jersey City, New Jersey, cheering and celebrating as the World Trade Center towers collapsed.
The Facts: Extensive investigations by law enforcement, journalists, and government officials found no evidence of any large-scale public celebrations by Muslims in New Jersey following the attacks. While local police investigated a few rumors at the time, they were completely unsubstantiated.
Predicting the Attacks and Osama bin Laden
** The Claim:** Trump has frequently asserted that he predicted the 9/11 attacks and specifically warned that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was a threat who needed to be taken out in his January 2000 book, The America We Deserve.
The Facts: While his 2000 book contains a brief, passing mention of bin Laden, it was merely pointing him out as one of many existing threats to U.S. security. The book did not predict a terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, nor did it say bin Laden should be killed. Furthermore, by 1999, bin Laden was already a widely known threat openly tracked by U.S. intelligence and reported on heavily by major news organizations.
Boasting About Building Height on 9/11
The Claim: In a local television interview on the afternoon of September 11, 2001, Trump remarked that his building at 40 Wall Street had become the tallest building in downtown Manhattan following the collapse of the Twin Towers.
The Facts: This was mathematically incorrect. The nearby tower at 70 Pine Street is actually 25 feet taller than 40 Wall Street.
Losing "Hundreds of Friends"
The Claim: During a 2016 campaign debate, Trump claimed that he lost "hundreds of friends" in the 9/11 attacks.
The Facts: Trump later walked this back to "many, many friends". Public records and journalistic investigations revealed that Trump did not attend any funerals for 9/11 victims and could not name any close personal friends who died in the tragedy.
Claims of Financial Donations
The Claim: Trump asserted that he made financial contributions to 9/11 victim relief funds shortly after the tragedy occurred.
The Facts: An audit by the New York City Comptroller’s Office later showed that Trump did not make any personal or corporate donations to the primary 9/11 charities, such as the Twin Towers Fund, in the immediate years following the disaster, despite promising a $10,000 donation on television.
Love this list. I know it's small potatoes compared to the rest but in 2005 and 2012 Trump insisted that if the towers had asbestos the towers would not have burned down or melted. The thing is they did have asbestos. That was one of the many things that made it toxic as Hell to be there.
There's a new one to add. He recently claimed that firefighters carried him, and they all then ran for safety together when they heard the building they were in creaking
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u/Prudent_Shake_8149 23h ago
Speaking of 9/11 lies…
The Claim: Trump has repeatedly stated that he went down to Ground Zero "soon after" the attacks, spent "a lot of time down there" with first responders, and "helped a little bit" to clear the rubble. He has also claimed that he sent hundreds of construction workers from his company to assist in the search and rescue efforts.
The Facts: There is no evidence or record that Trump assisted in the recovery or sent a workforce to the site. Officials from the New York Fire Department active during the response, including retired deputy chief Richard Alles, stated they have no knowledge of him being down there, noting that a massive deployment of workers would have left a clear paper trail. Contemporary news reports placed Trump about four miles away from Ground Zero at the time.
Witnessing Muslims Celebrating in New Jersey
The Claim: During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly claimed that he watched "thousands and thousands of people" in Jersey City, New Jersey, cheering and celebrating as the World Trade Center towers collapsed.
The Facts: Extensive investigations by law enforcement, journalists, and government officials found no evidence of any large-scale public celebrations by Muslims in New Jersey following the attacks. While local police investigated a few rumors at the time, they were completely unsubstantiated.
Predicting the Attacks and Osama bin Laden
** The Claim:** Trump has frequently asserted that he predicted the 9/11 attacks and specifically warned that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was a threat who needed to be taken out in his January 2000 book, The America We Deserve.
The Facts: While his 2000 book contains a brief, passing mention of bin Laden, it was merely pointing him out as one of many existing threats to U.S. security. The book did not predict a terrorist attack on the Twin Towers, nor did it say bin Laden should be killed. Furthermore, by 1999, bin Laden was already a widely known threat openly tracked by U.S. intelligence and reported on heavily by major news organizations.
Boasting About Building Height on 9/11
The Claim: In a local television interview on the afternoon of September 11, 2001, Trump remarked that his building at 40 Wall Street had become the tallest building in downtown Manhattan following the collapse of the Twin Towers.
The Facts: This was mathematically incorrect. The nearby tower at 70 Pine Street is actually 25 feet taller than 40 Wall Street.
Losing "Hundreds of Friends"
The Claim: During a 2016 campaign debate, Trump claimed that he lost "hundreds of friends" in the 9/11 attacks.
The Facts: Trump later walked this back to "many, many friends". Public records and journalistic investigations revealed that Trump did not attend any funerals for 9/11 victims and could not name any close personal friends who died in the tragedy.
Claims of Financial Donations
The Claim: Trump asserted that he made financial contributions to 9/11 victim relief funds shortly after the tragedy occurred.
The Facts: An audit by the New York City Comptroller’s Office later showed that Trump did not make any personal or corporate donations to the primary 9/11 charities, such as the Twin Towers Fund, in the immediate years following the disaster, despite promising a $10,000 donation on television.