POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Did Trump say he now owned ‘tallest’ building in downtown Manhattan during 9/11 interview?
The Claim A viral claim circulating online, particularly on social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit, suggested that former U.S. President Donald Trump stated during...
The Claim
A viral claim circulating online, particularly on social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Reddit, suggested that former U.S. President Donald Trump stated during an interview shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks that he now owned the ‘tallest’ building in downtown Manhattan or even all of New York City. The claim gained traction around the 25th anniversary of the attacks, with users sharing clips and captions that portrayed Trump as boasting about his real estate holdings.
One notable example was a tweet from @factpostnews, which shared a video clip captioned, "Here is Trump on 9/11 bragging that Trump Tower is now the tallest building in Manhattan." The post included a link to a YouTube video featuring an interview between Trump and WWOR-TV reporter Alan Marcus. The clip, archived from 2016, became a focal point for the controversy, with many interpreting it as evidence of Trump’s self-promotion following the 9/11 attacks.
The Details & Investigation
During a phone-in interview with WWOR-TV on September 11, 2001, just days after the 9/11 attacks, Trump spoke with reporter Alan Marcus about the damage sustained by 40 Wall Street, a building owned by the Trump Organization. At the time, Trump claimed that 40 Wall Street had been the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan before the World Trade Center was constructed, and that it had become the tallest following the destruction of the Twin Towers.
According to the recorded exchange (at 1:43), Trump said, "Well, it was an amazing phone call I made. 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 is the tallest." This statement was taken out of context and later misinterpreted by some as Trump claiming ownership of the tallest building in all of Manhattan or New York City, rather than specifically downtown Manhattan.
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However, historical data reveals that 40 Wall Street, at 380 feet, was not the tallest building in Manhattan at the time. The nearby 70 Pine Street, standing at 952 feet, was taller. Thus, Trump’s assertion that 40 Wall Street was the tallest in downtown Manhattan was factually inaccurate. The claim, while correctly attributed to Trump, contained a factual error, suggesting either a lack of awareness or intentional misrepresentation depending on interpretation.
Snopes confirmed that the quote was authentic and that Trump did make the statement in the 2001 interview. However, the broader implication that he claimed to own the tallest building in all of Manhattan or New York City was misleading. This appears to be a case of misinterpretation or selective framing of the original statement, which could be classified as either misinformation or disinformation based on intent and context.
The Verdict
The viral claim that Donald Trump said he now owned the ‘tallest’ building in downtown Manhattan or New York City during a 9/11 interview is partially accurate but misleading. While Trump did state that 40 Wall Street had become the tallest building in downtown Manhattan following the 9/11 attacks, this was factually incorrect. The building was not the tallest in the area, and the claim that he owned the ‘tallest’ in all of Manhattan or New York City is an exaggeration not supported by the original interview.
Given the context, the claim constitutes a case of **misinformation**—a misstatement or misunderstanding of facts rather than a deliberate attempt to deceive. However, the way the quote was selectively presented and amplified on social media suggests elements of **disinformation**, as it was used to frame Trump in a particular light without full context. Therefore, the claim is best rated as **MISLEADING** due to its potential to distort public perception of Trump’s statements.
Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).
