Related media – Associated media
During a recent press briefing at his Mar-a-Lago estate, former President Donald Trump seemingly confused former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown with former Governor of California, Jerry Brown. Trump recounted an alleged helicopter incident involving Willie Brown, which he described as a near-fatal event, during discussions about Vice President Kamala Harris’s previous association with Willie Brown and its influence on his professional journey.
Trump narrated, “We were in a helicopter heading to a location when we had to make an emergency landing. It was quite harrowing, and Willie seemed quite worried.” He added, “I got to know him fairly well through that experience.”
However, Willie Brown refuted Trump’s version of events in a subsequent interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, stating, “If I had been in a helicopter with Trump, it would have been known. We have never shared a helicopter ride.”
In reality, it was Jerry Brown, not Willie Brown, who accompanied Trump on a helicopter during a 2018 visit to Paradise, California, following severe wildfires. This trip, also attended by then-Governor-elect Gavin Newsom, did not involve any emergency landing, contrary to Trump’s claim, as confirmed by a spokesperson for Newsom.
Adding to the confusion, Trump also alleged that Willie Brown had expressed disparaging remarks about Harris, to which Willie Brown responded directly, dismissing such claims as completely unfounded.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, did not directly address the confusion between the two Browns, instead commenting vaguely on Willie Brown’s past comments about Harris.
This mix-up highlights a notable gaffe in Trump’s recall of past events, blending personal interactions and public figures in an error-prone recount of history.
Linked media – Linked media
