President Donald Trump claimed he was saved by 9/11 first responders despite being miles away from the devastating September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City. Speaking at a Tunnel to Towers Foundation event near the White House on Tuesday, September 8, Trump, 80, recalled sending his crew to the area after the attacks. He described the chaos and damage, saying buildings were creaking and that nobody had ever seen anything like it. However, he later made the striking claim that two firefighters had carried him to safety following the tragedy, despite evidence that he was not at Ground Zero.
Trump’s remarks are not the first time he has made disputed claims about his experience on 9/11, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 Americans. Richard Alles, a retired deputy chief with the New York Fire Department, told The New York Times in 2019 that Trump was never present at Ground Zero during or immediately after the attacks. Timothy O’Brien, author of TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald, also said Trump was not a first responder by any standard definition and was not part of the first wave of people who arrived at the site to provide assistance.
A detailed fact check by Newsweek in 2024 also examined Trump’s previous statements about his actions after the attacks and found no evidence that he helped clear rubble or locate survivors at Ground Zero. His latest comments have therefore renewed scrutiny over his recollections of that day. The White House, however, strongly defended the president, arguing that his remarks were intended to describe his experience of New York City in the aftermath of the attacks rather than portray himself as a first responder.
In a statement, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump had spent the morning honoring the first responders who lost their lives and their families. Ingle criticized what he described as attacks from the media, saying Trump was recounting his experience of a city recovering from the horrific attacks. Trump is also scheduled to speak at a commemoration ceremony at the Pentagon on Friday, September 11, while Vice President JD Vance is expected to join all four living former presidents at the World Trade Center commemoration after Trump reportedly declined to attend the event when he was told he could not deliver a speech.
