Summary
- WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has once again drawn attention to his account of the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, claiming that two firefighters pulled him away from an unstable building at Ground Zero because they feared it could collapse on him.
- Trump recalls dramatic Ground Zero moment Describing the events that followed the attacks, Trump said he had been concerned that a damaged building might collapse and that two “strong” firefighters grabbed him by the arms and urged him to leave the area.
- Firefighter remembered at White House During the White House event, Trump displayed a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower and again described what he said he did immediately after the attacks.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has once again drawn attention to his account of the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, claiming that two firefighters pulled him away from an unstable building at Ground Zero because they feared it could collapse on him.
Trump made the remarks during a White House event as the United States prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, which killed 2,977 people.
Trump recalls dramatic Ground Zero moment
Describing the events that followed the attacks, Trump said he had been concerned that a damaged building might collapse and that two “strong” firefighters grabbed him by the arms and urged him to leave the area.
“I was afraid the building was going to come down on me,” Trump said while recalling the episode.
The comments have revived questions about Trump’s long-standing narrative regarding his presence and activities around Ground Zero after the attacks.
Trump has repeatedly suggested over the years that he played a significant role in the rescue and recovery effort following the destruction of the World Trade Center. However, accounts from some rescue workers and officials have not fully matched his descriptions of his involvement.
His latest remarks have therefore attracted renewed scrutiny, particularly as the country prepares for a major anniversary commemorating one of the darkest days in modern American history.
25th anniversary adds significance
The controversy comes as New York prepares for the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
The main memorial ceremony will take place at Ground Zero, where Vice President JD Vance and former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are expected to attend.
Trump, meanwhile, is scheduled to remain in Washington and visit the Pentagon to pay tribute to the victims.
The White House has strongly rejected reports that Trump avoided the New York ceremony because he was not permitted to deliver a speech.
Trump has also defended his decision on his social media platform, saying the Ground Zero ceremony is traditionally a solemn occasion where speeches are not delivered.
Firefighter remembered at White House
During the White House event, Trump displayed a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center’s South Tower and again described what he said he did immediately after the attacks.
He claimed he was overseeing a construction project at the time and sent his entire team to Ground Zero shortly after the attacks.
The event also honoured volunteer firefighter Welles Crowther, who died while helping people escape the South Tower.
Crowther became known as the “Man in the Red Bandana” because of the red bandana he wore while rescuing people.
Trump presented Crowther’s family with the nation’s highest civilian honour and joked about Crowther’s enduring fame.
The renewed debate over Trump’s 9/11 recollections comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as Americans prepare to remember the thousands who lost their lives and the first responders whose actions became part of the attacks’ lasting legacy.
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