Trump 9/11 speech criticized
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump claimed firefighters saved him at Ground Zero on 9/11; fact-checkers found no evidence.
The claim adds to scrutiny of his 9/11 record as he skips NYC memorial.
Background
On Sept. 8, 2026, President Trump gave a speech at the White House where he told a story about being at the World Trade Center area on 9/11 and being rescued by two firefighters from a creaking building. This story was immediately fact-checked by MSNBC host Peter Alexander, who noted there is no evidence to support it. The controversy comes as Trump has decided not to attend the 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York City, instead appearing at the Pentagon, which has drawn criticism from New York officials.
How it unfolded
- Sep 1, 2026Gov. Kathy Hochul accuses Trump of 'defunding the police' by withholding counterterrorism funds, calling it a betrayal of 9/11 victims.
- Sep 2, 2026Reports say Trump will not attend the NYC 9/11 memorial, with other living presidents attending; Trump later blasts the reporting as 'fake news'.
- Sep 8, 2026In a White House speech, Trump tells a story about being rescued by firefighters at Ground Zero on 9/11; fact-checkers find no evidence.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Trump's spokesperson Steven Cheung blasted the reporting on his absence as 'fake news'.
- Critics
- MSNBC host Peter Alexander fact-checked Trump's story, saying there is no evidence for it.
- Official
- Gov. Hochul accused Trump of 'abandoning' New York by withholding counterterrorism funds.
Still unverified
Trump's claim about being rescued by firefighters on 9/11 is unverified and disputed; no evidence has been found.