25 Years After 9/11: Unbelievable Statement at Hero’s Honor - Then Trump Turns 9/11 Back Into a Story About Himself

Donald Trump was actually supposed to honor a man that day who gave his life for others on September 11, 2001. Welles Crowther was 24 years old, an equities trader and a volunteer firefighter. In the burning South Tower of the World Trade Center, he brought an estimated 18 people to safety before he himself died.

Donald Trump was actually supposed to honor a man that day who gave his life for others on September 11, 2001. Welles Crowther was 24 years old, an equities trader and a volunteer firefighter. In the burning South Tower of the World Trade Center, he brought an estimated 18 people to safety before he himself died. He became known as “the man in the red bandanna” because he tied the red cloth over his mouth and nose while leading people through smoke and fire. On Tuesday, Trump posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.

Then the president said of Crowther: “The man in the red bandanna has become more famous than me. I don’t like it.” At an event marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Trump managed within seconds to move from the dead rescuer to himself.

Even before describing Crowther’s actions, Trump once again told his story about the days after the attacks, a story that has been disputed for years. He said he had brought a “large group” of workers from his own construction sites to Ground Zero to help there. Once again, no evidence was provided. Richard Alles, a former New York City Fire Department battalion chief, said back in 2019 that he had no knowledge of Trump being there with such a crew. If around 100 workers had actually been sent, there should be records of it. The White House did not provide any such records despite being asked twice. Trump later insisted on his social media platform that everything he had said was “exactly accurate.” Video footage shows him in a suit in the area around Ground Zero two days after the attacks, but not directly at the disaster site.

Trump added another story on Tuesday. He said two big firefighters had grabbed him under the arms and carried him away because there were fears that the U.S. Steel Building, now known as One Liberty Plaza, could also collapse. He did not say exactly when this was supposed to have happened. The White House did not provide a date either. In 2016, Trump told a similar version, but at the time said the building had been “not far from us” several days after the attacks. Other statements Trump has made about 9/11 have also been disproven or remain unverified for years. In 2015, he claimed that “thousands and thousands” of people had cheered in Jersey City as the towers came down. Police and other authorities found no basis for that claim. In 2016, Trump also said he had “helped a little bit” with clearing the rubble. To this day, there is no confirmation of that either from first responders who were there or from news coverage at the time.

The event itself was organized by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Families of first responders who were killed and survivors gathered around a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center. Among the guests was Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald on September 11, 2001. His company lost 658 employees, including his younger brother Gary. Trump will mark the actual anniversary on Friday at the Pentagon and then travel to Ireland for a tournament at his Trump International Golf Links. The living former U.S. presidents, meanwhile, are expected to attend the memorial ceremony at Ground Zero in New York. The White House is sending Vice President JD Vance there. When reporters asked why Trump could not attend both the Pentagon and Ground Zero events, he did not answer. Meanwhile, Welles Crowther’s mother Alison reminded everyone of something far simpler than all the stories about Trump: Her son showed that when other people need us, people can find the courage to help. That is what Welles Crowther was honored for that day.