Trump's 9/11 Statements Face Scrutiny Ahead of Anniversary

Former President Donald Trump has recounted his actions following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in interviews and public appearances. These accounts include assertions about his personal participation in the recovery operations at Ground Zero.

During a September 2023 interview with Breitbart News, Trump stated, "I was down there with my people, with my workers, at 40 Wall Street, which is a block away, and we were helping to dig people out." He further elaborated on this claim in an interview with the New York Post in March 2024, asserting that he "spent a lot of time down there" and that his "crew was the first in." He also mentioned his company's workers "digging out people" and that he personally went down to the site.

Photographic evidence from the period, including images published by the New York Times on September 13, 2001, depicts Trump surveying the damage near the World Trade Center site. The photos show him in a suit, observing the aftermath from a distance. The accompanying captions do not indicate his direct involvement in rescue or recovery efforts.

News reports from the days immediately following the attacks detail Trump's public statements and activities. On September 11, 2001, Trump called into the local Fox affiliate, WWOR-TV, to discuss the damage to his building at 40 Wall Street. He noted his property, located a few blocks from the World Trade Center, had sustained damage. During this call, he characterized his building as having been, prior to the attack, the "second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan." The World Trade Center towers had previously held that distinction.

On September 13, 2001, Trump appeared on NBC’s ‘Today’ show. He spoke with host Matt Lauer about the destruction, reiterating his concern for 40 Wall Street and expressing general sadness about the events. In this interview, he did not mention any personal participation in the physical recovery work or directing his employees to engage in such activities.

The 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, bringing renewed focus to the events and the narratives surrounding them.