(AP Photo/Nick Ut)
There are now three people who refute this Donald Trump’s claim he was almost involved in a helicopter crash with the former mayor of San Francisco Willie Brownincluding Brown himself.
In an interview with journalists on Thursday, Trump told the alleged near-death story of him and Brown, but Nate Holdena former Los Angeles city councilman and state senator, told Politico on Friday that the former president confused two black men because he was the one who was on the helicopter with Trump.
“Willie is the little black guy who lives in San Francisco,” he said. “I’m a big black guy who lives in Los Angeles.”
According to Trump’s version of events, Brown accompanied him in the helicopter and told him “horrible” things about the vice president Kamala HarrisThe two were previously in a relationship.
Holden told Politico that the helicopter incident occurred around 1990 when Trump was planning to build a property in Los Angeles. During the flight to Atlantic City, the two pilots told their passengers that some equipment was empty and they would have to make an emergency landing. The group, which included a lawyer, Harvey FreedmanTrump’s late brother Robert Trump and Barbara Resa former Trump manager, finally made it to New Jersey despite severe turbulence.
Res also wrote about the helicopter story in her 2013 book All Alone on the 68th Floor. She also told Politico that Trump had confused Holden with Brown.
The Trump team did not deny Holden and Res’ statements, but referred to an earlier New York Times article that only referred to Trump’s book “Letters to Trump,” including a letter from Trump in which he also mentioned that Brown was with him in the helicopter.
Brown himself has denied Trump’s version of events. The former mayor appeared on CNN on Friday and said Trump’s story “never happened.”
“That never happened. Period,” he said. “And I think my memory is probably better than his.”
Holden said Trump either “got it mixed up” or completely “made it up” regarding the near-death experience.
“This was just too big to miss. This is a big deal. To confuse Willie Brown and me? The press is looking for the real story and hasn’t found it,” he said.
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