Former U.S. president Donald Trump recounted a story to reporters on Thursday about being involved in a helicopter emergency landing with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
Asked by a reporter about U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ previous relationship with Brown and whether it helped her career trajectory, Trump said he knew Brown “very well” and told a story about the alleged helicopter incident.
“I know Willie Brown very well. 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,” Trump told reporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for his first news conference since the Democratic ticket was announced.
Brown, however, rejected Trump’s account as “obviously wrong” during a phone call later Thursday with CNN, saying: “I’ve never been in a helicopter with him in my life.”
It was verified by another passenger, Trump just got the name wrong. He’s probably also exaggerating the situation for dramatic purposes
The helicopter needed to land because of turbulence and instrument malfunctions. They weren’t in risk of crashing. Shortly beforehand, there had been a helicopter crash in the area, which influenced the pilot to take “safety first” landing. Trump went right into another helicopter to continue his journey…
Anyway, I fully understand the need to land and why passengers including Trump were scared shitless, but it’s really nothing to brag about.
I almost got hit by a car yesterday. It was on the road and I was on the pavement. Close call.