Sen. Ted Cruz defends Donald Trump’s disputed 9/11 account, calling it a ‘traumatic experience’ for everyone
Sen. Ted Cruz defended President Donald Trump’s disputed account of his experience after the September 11 attacks, saying the events were traumatic for everyone and that he believed Trump accurately described his personal experience.
Cruz backed Trump’s recollection
Cruz made these remarks on September 8 during an appearance on CNN’s The Source with Kaitlan Collins. The discussion focused on Trump’s account at a Tunnel to Towers Foundation remembrance event on the Ellipse before the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
At the event, Trump stated that days after the attacks, two firefighters attempted to carry him away from One Liberty Plaza due to concerns the building might collapse.
Collins challenged Cruz over the way Trump had described the incident, saying, “I mean, he’s kind of making it sound like he was pulled out of the rubble, though, with the firefighters. Do you think that’s appropriate?”
Cruz replied, “September 11th was 25 years ago, it was a horrific moment for our entire country, and you could doubt whatever you want about Donald Trump, but the man is a New Yorker, he loves New York, and I have every doubt that what he’s conveying there is what he experienced… And that was a traumatic experience for all of us.”
Collins questioned the possible exaggeration
Responding to Cruz, Collins said, “Yeah. Some people might just hear that and think he’s exaggerating his role. Should anyone exaggerate what happened on 9/11?”
Cruz went on to say, “Look, think when you’re sharing your feelings, your sentiments, I remember I was in DC on 9/11. We lived less than a mile away from the Pentagon.”
The senator then shared his experience, describing his wife Heidi Cruz’s evacuation from the White House and the loss of a close friend.
Trump described what happened in New York
At the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s “Steel Across America” event, Trump said he “looked out my window” after the attack and later took a “whole crew” of his workers downtown. He recalled being near One Liberty Plaza, formerly the U.S. Steel Building.
Trump then shared the account Collins questioned on her show, stating that firefighters grabbed him under the arms, “literally lifted me up,” and “started running with me.”
He later addressed the matter on Truth Social, saying he had visited the World Trade Center site with construction workers after the attack and maintained that his recollection was “accurate.”
Earlier claims have also been disputed
Trump’s latest description adds to previous accounts of his activities in New York after the 9/11 attacks. He has previously stated that he sent hundreds of his workers to help with recovery efforts at Ground Zero.
Several fact-checks have found no evidence that Trump sent a large number of workers to participate in the recovery efforts. Fact-checkers have cited a former FDNY battalion chief who said he was unaware of Trump’s involvement.