Trump Makes 9/11 Claim

Trump said firefighters carried him to safety near ground zero after the Sept. 11 attacks.

•Leans Left

Why Trump’s Appalling 9/11 Lie Is Just The Start: Political Guru

Trump claims firefighters carried him from ground zero days after 9/11 attack

All the Places Trump Was on 9/11

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Analysis & opinion

The reporting

A neutral summary of the key facts most outlets agree on, drawn from reporting across the political spectrum.

President Donald Trump said at a White House 9/11 memorial event that two firefighters lifted and carried him near ground zero “right after” the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks because they feared the nearby U.S. Steel Building would collapse. His account drew renewed scrutiny because he has previously given different versions of his post-attack role, including claims that he sent construction workers to help at the site. Available photos and video document Trump visiting Lower Manhattan after the attacks, but do not verify the firefighters episode he described.

Analysis & opinion

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Self-Centered HeroismLeans Left

Trump used a solemn 9/11 story to make himself look heroic rather than honoring the people who actually sacrificed. His remarks were self-centered and disrespectful because they shifted attention from genuine heroism to his own image.

False 9/11 RoleLeans Left

Trump falsely inflated his personal involvement in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. The known record does not support his accounts of being immediately at Ground Zero, being caught up in the chaos, or playing the heroic role he has described.