Former President Donald Trump is facing scrutiny over a story he recently shared about surviving an emergency helicopter landing with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Trump recounted this anecdote during a news conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, and it has since been proven false, according to Brown himself.
The False Tale Resurfaces
This isn’t the first time Trump has shared this story. In a 2023 book, Trump also mentioned the incident, claiming that he and Brown experienced a harrowing helicopter emergency landing together. Trump used the tale as an opportunity to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris, suggesting that Brown had told him “terrible things” about her.
However, Willie Brown, a long-serving political figure in California and former Assembly Speaker, has categorically denied the story. “You would have known if I had gone down on a helicopter with Trump,” Brown told the San Francisco Chronicle. “I’ve never been on a helicopter with Trump.”
Brown Refutes Trump’s Claims
Brown’s denial extends beyond the helicopter story. He also refuted Trump’s claim that he had made disparaging remarks about Kamala Harris. Brown, who briefly dated Harris in the 1990s and appointed her to two state commissions during her time as a prosecutor, dismissed Trump’s allegations as entirely false. “It’s just as accurate as all of the other components of what you’re asking me about,” Brown said. “No, not accurate at all.”
Confusion with Jerry Brown?
Journalists have speculated that Trump may have confused Willie Brown with another prominent California politician, former Governor Jerry Brown. Trump did fly on a helicopter with Jerry Brown, but there was no emergency landing, nor was there any discussion of Kamala Harris during that flight. Jerry Brown confirmed this in a statement, further debunking Trump’s narrative.
Trump’s Response and Threats
Despite the denials from both Willie Brown and Jerry Brown, Trump has doubled down on his story. In an interview with The New York Times, Trump insisted that he has records of a helicopter emergency landing with Willie Brown and even threatened to sue the newspaper for reporting otherwise. However, no such records have been provided, and Trump’s campaign has not responded to requests for comment.
Conclusion
As the story continues to unravel, it raises further questions about the accuracy of Trump’s recollections and statements. Willie Brown’s outright denial and the clarification from Jerry Brown suggest that Trump’s tale is another in a series of exaggerated or false claims.
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