Trump’s press conference today featured a tale about riding in a helicopter with California politician Willie Brown feeding him dirt about Kamala Harris, whom he formerly dated. Trump said, “Well, I know Willie Brown very well. In fact, I went down in a helicopter with him.” and went on to say this about that helicopter ride:
We thought maybe this was the end. We were in a helicopter, going to a certain location together, and there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing. And Willie was — he was a little concerned. So I know him, but I know him pretty well. I mean, I haven’t seen him in years. But he told me terrible things about her. But this is what you’re telling me, anyway, I guess. But he had a big part in what happened with Kamala. But he — he, I don’t know, maybe he’s changed his tune. But he — he was not a fan of hers very much, at that point.
Now you know Trump — even without checking the story, it’s gotta be false. (Of course no reporters challenged him about it while he was telling it.) But the New York Times’s Heather Knight and Shawn Hubler have the goods on Trump’s lies.
- Trump never rode in a helicopter with Willie Brown. He rode with then-governor Jerry Brown. That is, Trump confused the two Browns. Knight and Hubler contacted both Browns to confirm this.
- There was no emergency landing. Jerry Brown has confirmed this.
- Nobody on the flight discussed Kamala Harris. This has been confirmed by both Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom, who also was on the flight.
- Willie Brown was and remains a big fan of Kamala Harris. Knight and Hubler confirmed this with WIllie Brown.
- During the flight Trump “repeatedly brought up the possibility of crashing”, according to Gavin Newsom.
Yes, the Great and Powerful President Trump apparently is not a big fan of helicopters.
It was just after his helicopter flight to inspect the results of wildfires in Paradise, CA, that Trump, inspired by his visit, said that the way to solve California’s wildfire problems was to rake the forest floors — an idea he also promoted in his losing 2020 presidential campaign.
