09/09/2026
Donald Trump’s public account of 9/11 has been given in interviews, press releases, and speeches from 2001 onward. Here’s what he said at the time and later:
1. On the day of 9/11/2001
Trump called into news outlets that morning. Key points:
WWOR-TV, 9/11 morning: “It was a horrible thing... I’ve never seen anything like it.” He also said: “The World Trade Center is an incredible job. It was an architectural marvel... I’m glad to see it’s gone.”
On his building: He noted that 40 Wall Street, which he owned 3 blocks away, was now the tallest building in downtown Manhattan after the towers fell.
2. About first responders
This is the claim he repeated most.
In a 2001 press release and later interviews, Trump said:
“40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan, and it was actually, before the World Trade Center, was the tallest — and then, when they built the World Trade Center, it became known as the second-tallest. And now it’s the tallest.”
He also claimed in 2015-2016 campaign rallies that he sent workers from his company down with equipment:
“I was down there. I watched our people... I’ve never seen anything like it. And I sent hundreds of men down to help.”
“We had a lot of construction workers down there. We sent them down there to help.”
Fact-check context: There’s no public record or FEMA/NYFD documentation confirming Trump construction workers were officially part of the rescue/recovery. His spokesperson in 2016 said volunteers from his company helped, but NYFD did not list them.
3. About Muslims in NJ "cheering"
On ABC’s This Week and in a 2015 rally, Trump claimed:
“I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering.”
Fact-check: Police and media found no verified video or reports of mass celebrations in Jersey City that day. Trump later said he was referring to what he “heard” and “saw on TV.”
4. Later reflections
2016 RNC speech: Called it “the worst attack on our country” and used it to argue for stronger borders and vetting.
2021 20th anniversary: Posted a video saying “We will never forget the heroes of 9/11.”
Summary of his account
His narrative has 3 consistent parts:
Eyewitness: Watched it happen from Manhattan.
Helper: Sent his construction crews to help with rubble.
Patriotic framing: Uses 9/11 to talk about American strength, first responders, and national security.
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