Trump fabricates story about near-fatal helicopter ride with Willie Brown; both Browns deny it happened
At Mar-a-Lago, Trump claimed he nearly died in a helicopter with Willie Brown, who allegedly told him "terrible things" about Harris. Trump stated: "We thought maybe this is the end...there was an emergency landing." Willie Brown told reporters: "I've never been on a helicopter with Trump." Jerry Brown's office denied any emergency during a 2018 helicopter ride Trump took with Jerry Brown and Newsom. Trump confused Willie Brown (Black SF mayor) with Jerry Brown (white governor), fabricated an emergency landing, and invented a conversation to attack Harris.
“I went down in a helicopter with him. We thought maybe this is the end...there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing.” — Mar-a-Lago press conference, August 8, 2024 Quote verified against source
Analysis Feed
AI commentaryThis incident is notable for multiple layers of fabrication: Trump confused two prominent California politicians (Willie Brown vs Jerry Brown), invented an emergency landing that never occurred, and claimed a conversation that the supposed participant denies ever happened. The story appears designed to manufacture dirt on Kamala Harris through her past relationship with Willie Brown. The incident raised questions about Trump's mental acuity, as confusing two well-known political figures and fabricating vivid details suggests either deliberate lying or cognitive decline. Trump doubled down on the story even after both Browns denied it.