That Time Trump Nearly Died in a Helicopter Crash? Didn't Happen.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

That Time Trump Nearly Died in a Helicopter Crash? Didn’t Happen.

In a news conference, the former president recounted a brush with death alongside Willie Brown, the former San Francisco mayor. A few aspects of the story don’t hold up to scrutiny.



In November 2018, President Donald J. Trump and Gov. Jerry Brown of California visiting a neighborhood destroyed by a wildfire in Paradise, Calif. Mr. Trump and Mr. Brown also viewed the damage by helicopter. Tom Brenner for The New York Times

By Heather Knight and Shawn Hubler
Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles

Aug. 8, 2024
Updated 9:01 p.m. ET

Former President Donald J. Trump told a jaw-dropping story on Thursday about nearly dying in a helicopter ride with Willie Brown, the former California politician and ex-boyfriend of his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. … There was only one problem with the story. Or maybe two. Or maybe three.

It wasn’t the famous former San Francisco mayor on the helicopter flight at all. It was Gov. Jerry Brown, the former governor of California, who bears little resemblance to Willie Brown. … There was also no emergency landing, and the helicopter’s passengers were never in any danger at all, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who was also on the flight.

Jerry Brown, who left office in January 2019, said through a spokesman, “There was no emergency landing and no discussion of Kamala Harris.” … “I call complete B.S.,” Mr. Newsom said, laughing out loud.

Mr. Trump’s errant account, delivered during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, came in response to a reporter who asked a leading question about Ms. Harris’s past relationship with Willie Brown, and whether Mr. Trump thought it might have had something to do with her career trajectory.

{snip}

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. He sure whiffed on that partisan softball! Who threw that?

Instead, he creates a another documentable lie. Should be the only question the MSM asks Trump until he admits to a complete fabrication.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Trump did this shtik before, according to John R. O'Donnell in his book, "Trumped".

In 1989, three of Trump's top executives for his casino (Taj Mahal) died in a helicopter crash as they left Atlantic City.

Never missing an opportunity to be a media whore, Trump repeatedly claimed that he could be dead as well, that he planned to ride with them. He made the story about him, not the three dead men.

Except it was a lie. He never intended to be on that helicopter.

Trump had the balls to attend at least one funeral. Watching the brother of the deceased break down in tears while delivering the eulogy, Trump remarked that he could "never do that." When asked about delivering an emotionally wrought eulogy, Trump retorted, "No. I could never go up there and make an ass of myself."

Anyone surprised?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. The other problem with Donald Trump's helicopter-ride story

The other problem with Donald Trump’s helicopter-ride story

At his news conference Thursday, the former president apparently invented the sort of tale for which he once excoriated a hated member of the news media.



Donald Trump speaks to reporters near the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 15, 2015. (Philip Bump/The Washington Post)

Column by Philip Bump
August 9, 2024 at 9:55 a.m. EDT

Donald Trump received effusive praise from allies and sympathizers alike for his willingness to hold an off-the-cuff news conference Thursday in a different part of his house. Here’s a guy who can simply invite in reporters and answer questions for an hour without preparation; why can’t Vice President Kamala Harris do the same?

One reason, of course, is that Trump is not now and has not ever been terribly worried about the product of his riffing. Sure, he almost invariably gets himself into trouble by disgorging false claims or toxic disparagements, but it’s easy enough to bury those with more disgorgement. It is the way; it has always been the way.

But this habit now unfolds in an environment where, thanks in part to Trump’s own energetic efforts, Americans are attuned to signs of mental decline or confusion. A story about, say, a near-deadly helicopter ride with a famous California politician — as Trump presented on Thursday — isn’t as easily dismissed as it might have been. Is this Trump making stuff up? Or is this Trump confusing different parts of different stories? Trump has a cover that President Joe Biden never did: that history of bizarre disgorgements.

{snip}

By Philip Bump
Philip Bump is a Post columnist based in New York. He writes the newsletter How To Read This Chart and is the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America. Twitter

[4lbs]

4. I would like Ms. Harris to bring this up on Sep 10. The orange moron might have

a meltdown, for all to see. No spinning that.

[twodogsbarking]

5. The pilot said to Trump "if you don't shut the fuck up I am going to crash this chopper and kill us all".