Donald Trump found himself in hot water during a recent press conference, where he recounted a bizarre anecdote involving a helicopter flight with Kamala Harris's former boyfriend, Willie Brown. However, this story appears to be entirely fabricated, as no such incident ever occurred. The former president, who is currently campaigning for the Republican nomination in the upcoming November election, seemed eager to reclaim the spotlight, which has largely been on Harris following her dramatic entry into the race.
In his anecdote, Trump claimed to have narrowly escaped death during an emergency landing, asserting that Brown had spoken 'terrible things' about Harris during the flight. However, the 90-year-old former mayor of San Francisco quickly refuted Trump's claims, stating in a local publication, 'If I had been in a helicopter with Trump, you would have known,' and added that he would never want to be in such a situation with the former president.
It has been suggested that Trump may have confused Willie Brown with former California governor Jerry Brown, with whom he did indeed take a helicopter ride in 2018 to survey damage from wildfires in Paradise. Jerry Brown confirmed that the flight was indeed lively, but emphasized that the landing was safe and that Harris was not discussed during the trip. Gavin Newsom, Jerry Brown's successor, corroborated this account, further distancing Trump’s claims from reality.
- The incident highlights Trump's tendency to embellish stories, particularly when trying to divert attention from his political opponents. As he continues his campaign, such misstatements could potentially undermine his credibility among voters. The juxtaposition of Trump's verbal slip-ups against his previous criticisms of Joe Biden's gaffes raises questions about his own reliability as a candidate.
- This episode also underscores the ongoing rivalry between Trump and Harris, as both are key figures in their respective parties. With Harris's rising profile, especially among younger voters, Trump's attempts to overshadow her with sensational anecdotes may backfire if voters perceive them as mere distractions.
