Donald Trump Says He Once Feared for His Life When His Helicopter 'Went Down.' His 'Witness' Says It Never Happened

Mar. 15, 2025

Donald Trump in 2024.Photo:Joe Raedle/Getty

Joe Raedle/Getty

Donald Trumpsuggested at a news conference that he once had a bonding moment with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown when a helicopter they were in “went down.” The only problem: Brown asserts he’s never flown in a helicopter with the former president.

While speaking to reporters on Aug. 8 at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Trump, 78, brought up the fact that Vice PresidentKamala Harrisdated Brown 30 years ago. He then got sidetracked, claiming that he knows Brown, 90, “very well” due to a scary helicopter ride they shared.

“In fact, I went down in a helicopter with him,” he said. “We thought maybe this is the end. We were in a helicopter going to a certain location together, and there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing, and Willie was, he was a little concerned.”

“So I know him. I know him pretty well,” Trump added. “I mean, I haven’t seen him in years. But he told me terrible things about [Harris].”

Donald Trump boards Marine One as he departs the White House in January 2021.Eric Thayer/Getty

Eric Thayer/Getty

After the comment was made, Brown, 90, quickly denied that he and Trump ever found themselves in a situation like that.

“You would have known if I had gone down on a helicopter with Trump,” Brown responded, according to theSan Francisco Chronicle. “I’ve never been on a helicopter with Trump.”

The former mayor also denied that he has spoken to Trump about Harris. “Hell, no. I wouldn’t say anything bad about any woman to him,” he told the outlet. “I would know better."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

One working theory about Trump’s uncorroborated helicopter tale is that he may have been mixing Willie Brown up with another Northern California politician: former California Gov.Jerry Brown.

Still, representatives for Govs. Brown and Newsom both denied experiencing any danger during their time on the helicopter, according toNBC News.

Regarding the claim that a helicopter carrying Trump ever “went down,” Newsom, 56, toldThe New York Times: “I call complete B.S.”

Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump survey fire damage with the mayor of Paradise, Calif., in November 2018.Evan Vucci/AP/REX/Shutterstock

When asked about the story’s inconsistencies, Trump spokespersonKaroline Leavitttold Newsmax on Friday: “I would just refer you to President Trump’s statement and what he said yesterday," adding: “The president has a lot of amazing stories from his life.”

On the same day as the Mar-a-Lago news conference, Trump and Harrisagreed on a presidential debateto take place on Sept. 10 on ABC, after Trump previously said that he would not attend.

source: people.com