Former President Donald Trump is strongly refuting accusations that a personal account of his presence at Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks is false. The controversy arose after Trump recounted a story during a White House speech honoring first responders, in which he described being in a dangerous building near Ground Zero and being pulled out by firefighters.
Critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, have publicly labeled the story a "lie." Online commentary and reports from publications like New York Magazine have also questioned the veracity of Trump's recollection, with some asserting he fabricated aspects of his experience.
Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to address these claims. He stated he was at Ground Zero shortly after the attacks, accompanied by a large group of construction workers. He elaborated on a specific incident where he and his crew were working in a building, the United States Steel Building, which he described as "creaking" and appearing unstable. Trump recounted that two firefighters assisted him in exiting the structure, which he stated did not collapse.
He also referenced past interviews from the aftermath of 9/11, which he posted online, showing him discussing the perilous conditions and the need for frequent evacuations near Ground Zero due to the weakened state of surrounding buildings. In one reposted interview from 2001 with NBC News, Trump described the danger, noting, "It's very dangerous because every few minutes a whistle will go off, and everyone will just run because you have all the buildings around it that are in such a weakened state that people just don't know."
Trump also addressed reports concerning his planned remarks at the Pentagon on September 11 and his absence from the New York ceremony. He denied allegations that he was denied an opportunity to speak at the Manhattan memorial service, asserting that no politicians are permitted to speak at that event. "I have been to the New York solemn ceremony numerous times, and nobody speaks," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Certainly I would not want to violate that, even if I could."
He demanded retractions from New York Magazine and The New York Times for their reporting on his 9/11 speech plans and his recounted experiences. Trump stated that his former head of security, Matthew Calamari, has corroborated the story to journalists multiple times. The former president characterized the ongoing questioning of his account as an example of "Fake News."