Trump had also claimed that Brown, who briefly dated Kamala Harris several decades ago, made critical comments about her
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former United States President, Donald Trump on Friday evening insisted that former San Francisco Mayor, Willie Brown was with him when he had an emergency helicopter landing years ago, even after the latter said such an incident never took place.
Earlier on Thursday, the 2024 Republican presidential candidate appeared to have confused Brown with the former California Governor, Jerry Brown, during a press conference, while telling a bizarre story about a near-death experience in a helicopter.
Speaking to journalists from Mar-a-Lago, Trump dramatically recalled a story about almost crashing on a flight while traveling with Willie Brown, who briefly dated his opponent and Vice President, Kamala Harris several decades ago.
“I went down in a helicopter with him; we thought maybe this was the end,” Trump said.
He added, “We were in a helicopter going to a certain location together, and there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing.”
The former president went on to claim that Brown made critical comments about Harris, saying, “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.”
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Debunking the claims, Brown, a longtime Democratic power broker who also served as the California State Assembly speaker, told the San Francisco Chronicle after Trump’s press conference that he was never in a helicopter with the former president.
“You would have known if I had gone down on a helicopter with Trump,” he told the newspaper.
He further denied he had ever said anything disparaging about Harris to Trump, adding that he was always on good terms with his former protégée, even after their breakup.
Despite his rebuttal, Trump doubled down on his earlier claim, telling the New York Times he had records to back his assertions.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the mystery, a former Los Angeles city council member, 95-year-old Nate Holden, told POLITICO that it was, in fact, he who was with Trump aboard the helicopter.
“Willie is the short Black guy living in San Francisco,” Holden told POLITICO. “I’m a tall Black guy living in Los Angeles.”