During a series of events leading up to the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, President Trump highlighted his personal response to the tragedy, emphasizing that he mobilized construction workers to aid the recovery effort. In a September 6 interview with Fox News host Trey Gowdy, the President said he was in New York on September 12, “building a building,” and that he and his crew went to the site the following day to help “long and hard.” He added that firefighters physically lifted him from a precarious spot near One Liberty Plaza when the building began to creak.
President’s Account of the Day‑to‑Day Response
Trump told the Fox audience, “I’m not the smallest guy in the world, but two firemen grabbed me under the arm and literally lifted me up. They ran with me because they thought the building might collapse. I told them I could run myself, but they were amazing.” He also recalled earlier statements made on September 13, when he spoke to German TV station N24, claiming, “We have over 100 and about 125 coming, so we’ll have a couple hundred people down here. They’re very brave and what they’re doing is amazing.” The President framed these actions as a direct effort to motivate and support the men and women working at the site.
Fact‑Check Findings
PolitiFact, the original source of this story, was unable to locate independent evidence confirming that President Trump personally brought “hundreds” of workers to Ground Zero or that he repeatedly visited the site in the weeks following the attacks. The earliest confirmed photo of Trump at the location dates to September 13, 2001, when he gave an interview to a German television outlet. No official records or eyewitness accounts from New York fire officials substantiate the claim that Trump was lifted by firefighters, though a Federal Reserve Bank of New York history page notes that employees were evacuated from the Fed building on September 12 due to concerns about One Liberty Plaza’s stability.
Richard Alles, a former New York Fire Department battalion chief, told PolitiFact in 2019 that he had no knowledge of Trump being at Ground Zero or of him bringing 100 or more workers to assist. “There would be a record of it,” Alles said, noting that all rescue and cleanup operations were under the direct supervision of police, fire, and the joint emergency commander.
Other Reports and Perspectives
Media accounts from the Associated Press and CNN described Trump as having been seen at Ground Zero on September 13, offering high‑fives to police officers and volunteers. A 2019 Breitbart article quoted former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, who claimed Trump visited the site “numerous times” to motivate workers, though Kerik admitted there were no cameras or press coverage of those visits.
President Trump’s administration has not provided additional documentation beyond the White House’s referral of inquiries to the Trump Organization, which did not respond to a request for comment.
Commemoration Plans
For the 25th anniversary, President Trump announced he will not attend the ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial in New York, opting instead for a ceremony at the Pentagon. The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources, that the decision was partly due to the Memorial’s policy of barring politicians from speaking at the site—a rule in place since 2012. Trump disputed the report on Truth Social, calling it “more Corrupt News” and asserting his long‑standing presence in New York and his desire to honor the victims and their families.
What This Means for the Public
President Trump’s statements reflect his belief that personal involvement and the mobilization of private‑sector workers were vital to the nation’s recovery after the attacks. While independent verification of the exact numbers and specific actions remains limited, the President’s narrative underscores a broader theme of private citizens stepping forward in times of crisis—a message that resonates with many Americans who value personal initiative and community service.
Critics, including fire‑department officials and fact‑checking organizations, continue to call for clearer documentation to substantiate the President’s claims. The ongoing dialogue highlights the importance of transparent historical records, especially when they involve national tragedies and the actions of public leaders.
Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.
