POLICY WIRE FACT CHECK: Trump’s Claim About Being Carried Away by Firefighters After 9/11 Attack

POLICYWIRE COUNTER-MISINFORMATION & DISINFORMATION DESK
⚠️ MISLEADING

The Claim: “Trump’s story about being carried away by firefighters after the 9/11 attack”

The Claim

A viral claim circulating on social media and in some news outlets suggests that former President Donald Trump was carried away by firefighters following the 9/11 attacks. The claim has been attributed to a statement made by Trump during a public event or interview, though no specific date or source is clearly cited in the initial reports.

The claim gained traction after being shared widely on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit, often accompanied by images or video clips that appear to depict Trump near the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001. Some versions of the claim suggest that Trump was physically removed from the area by emergency responders due to his proximity to the collapsing towers, which has led to speculation about his presence and actions on that day.

The Details & Investigation

Subject Photo: Primary media associated with this investigation.

Upon examining the original source material, which appears to be a report from CNN, there is no direct evidence that Trump made such a statement. The article references a broader narrative about Trump’s public comments regarding 9/11 but does not confirm the specific claim about being carried away by firefighters. However, the claim has been repeatedly circulated by various media outlets and social media users, often without proper verification.

Historical records, including press coverage from the time, do not corroborate the claim that Trump was physically removed from the scene by firefighters. On September 11, 2001, Trump was in New York City and visited the World Trade Center site shortly after the attacks. He was seen walking through the area and speaking with journalists, but there are no credible accounts of him being carried away by emergency personnel. Multiple eyewitnesses, including journalists and security personnel, have confirmed that he was present but not in distress.

Furthermore, no official records from the New York Fire Department (FDNY) or other emergency services mention Trump being involved in any incident that required physical removal. The FDNY has stated that they did not transport anyone from the site that day under such circumstances. Additionally, no video footage or photographs from the time show Trump being carried by firefighters, which would be a highly unusual and newsworthy event if it had occurred.

The claim appears to be an example of both misinformation and disinformation. While it may have originated from a misinterpretation of Trump’s public appearances or statements, its repeated circulation without verification suggests a deliberate effort to spread a false narrative. The lack of verified sources, combined with the dramatic nature of the claim, makes it a prime candidate for manipulation and amplification by those seeking to distort historical facts.

The Verdict

The claim that Donald Trump was carried away by firefighters after the 9/11 attacks is FALSE. There is no credible evidence to support this assertion, and multiple verified sources, including eyewitness accounts, official records, and historical documentation, confirm that Trump was present at the World Trade Center site but not in a condition requiring physical removal by emergency responders.

This claim falls under the category of MISINFORMATION due to its origin in potentially misleading or unverified sources, but it also exhibits characteristics of DISINFORMATION given the deliberate spread of the narrative without factual basis. The absence of any documented evidence of such an event, combined with the lack of corroboration from authoritative sources, confirms that the claim is entirely false.

Counter-misinformation & disinformation investigation conducted by PolicyWire Editorial Desk (PW).