Former President Donald Trump recently made headlines with a dramatic claim involving Willie Brown, the former mayor of San Francisco. According to Trump, he and Brown had a harrowing experience in a helicopter that ended with an emergency landing. However, Brown has firmly refuted the story, calling it a fabrication.
Trump’s Claim: A Dramatic Helicopter Incident
During a Thursday news conference, Trump recounted a vivid story of a helicopter ride with Willie Brown.
“I know Willie Brown very well,” Trump began. “In fact, I went down in a helicopter with him. We thought maybe this is the end. We were in a helicopter going to a certain location together and there was an emergency landing.”
This dramatic narrative painted a picture of a perilous situation that Trump claimed to have shared with the former mayor. However, Brown quickly dismissed this account as “fictional” and attributed it to Trump’s penchant for creativity.
Willie Brown’s Response: Fictional and Untrue
In response to Trump’s claims, Willie Brown told local news station KRON4 that the story was simply “his creativity — fictional.” Brown, who has had a long and distinguished career in California politics, stated that he had never conducted business with Trump and would not have been in a helicopter with him.
Brown also addressed allegations that he had made disparaging remarks about Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump suggested that Brown had said “terrible things” about Harris, who Brown dated over 25 years ago. The implication of this claim was that Harris may have improperly benefited from Brown’s influence, a notion that has been both rejected by Brown and criticised as sexist.
Regarding Harris, Brown told KRON4 that he “could not envision thinking of Kamala Harris in any negative way” and reaffirmed that she was a good friend.
A Possible Mix-Up: Jerry Brown and a Safe Helicopter Ride
It seems there might be confusion regarding the identities involved in Trump’s story. Trump did share a helicopter ride with then-California Governor Jerry Brown in 2018. This ride was to the fire-devastated town of Paradise. Unlike Trump’s dramatic account, Governor Jerry Brown confirmed that the ride was “lively but an utterly safe landing.”
Jerry Brown’s spokesperson added that the subject of Kamala Harris did not come up during the flight. This could indicate that Trump’s story might have been a mix-up involving Jerry Brown rather than Willie Brown.
No Emergency Landing: Governor Gavin Newsom’s Input
Adding to the clarity of the situation, Governor Gavin Newsom’s representative, who was also present during the helicopter ride, confirmed there was no flight mishap or emergency landing. The representative stated that Harris was not discussed during the flight, further debunking Trump’s dramatic narrative.
Key Points to Remember
Here’s a breakdown of the key elements of the story:
- Trump’s Claim: Involved a dangerous helicopter ride with Willie Brown and a subsequent emergency landing.
- Willie Brown’s Denial: Called the story fictional and stated no such incident occurred.
- Possible Confusion: Trump might have confused Willie Brown with Jerry Brown, with whom he had a safe helicopter ride in 2018.
- No Emergency Landing: Both Jerry Brown and Newsom’s representatives confirm there was no emergency situation or discussion of Kamala Harris during the helicopter ride.
The Broader Context
Trump’s penchant for dramatic storytelling is not new, but this incident highlights the potential for confusion and misinformation in high-profile narratives. For those following the story, it’s essential to rely on verified accounts and official statements rather than uncorroborated claims.
