PBS News Unearths 2001 Archive Footage
Newly surfaced archive footage sheds light on statements Donald Trump made near Ground Zero two days after the September 11 attacks.
Archive footage from September 13, 2001, brought to light by PBS News, shows Donald Trump—who was a real estate developer at the time—speaking with reporters near Ground Zero immediately after the destruction of the Twin Towers.
Statements from 2001
In the video filmed by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer crew on September 13, 2001, Donald Trump states that he was in the area to check on his construction crew.
At the time, Trump stated that the situation was very dangerous and that the buildings still posed a risk of collapse.
Construction Crew Claims
Trump had stated that he had an ongoing construction project in New York and that about 100 workers were helping with debris removal, with other workers on the way.
However, reviews by PolitiFact could not verify Trump's claims that he brought hundreds of workers to assist with the excavation efforts.
Recent Assessments
President Trump reiterated his experiences following the New York attacks and that he took his team to the area during a September 11 heroes commemoration ceremony.
Sharing this memory multiple times over the years, Trump emphasized that the events of those days were a raw and unprecedented disaster.