Cruz Defends Trump’s Controversial 9/11 Account

President Donald Trump has at least one supporter in his recounting of what happened to him on Sept. 11, 2001.

Trump said during Tuesday’s Tunnel to Towers event on the Ellipse that two firefighters attempted to carry him away from a building they feared would collapse near One Liberty Plaza in the days after the attacks.

While many are doubting the president’s account, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) defended Trump, saying the event was a “traumatic experience” for everyone and that he trusted the president’s retelling.

Cruz appeared on CNN’s “The Source” Tuesday night with host Kaitlan Collins.

After his speech, Trump doubled down as he later wrote on Truth Social he was at the World Trade Center site after the terror strike with construction workers. He insisted his account was “accurate.”

Collins questioned Cruz about Trump’s memory.

“I mean, he’s kind of making it sound like he was pulled out of the rubble, though, with the firefighters,” Collins said. “Do you think that’s appropriate?”

“September 11th was 25 years ago, it was a horrific moment for our entire country, and you could doubt whatever you want about Donald Trump, but the man is a New Yorker, he loves New York, and I have every doubt that what he’s conveying there is what he experienced,” Cruz said. “And that was a traumatic experience for all of us.”

Watch:

https://x.com/atrupar/status/2097492639369003230?s=20

“Yeah. Some people might just hear that and think he’s exaggerating his role. Should anyone exaggerate what happened on 9/11?” Collins asked.

“Look, think when you’re sharing your feelings, your sentiments, I remember I was in DC on 9/11. We lived less than a mile away from the Pentagon,” Cruz answered.

He then shared his own experience, including his wife Heidi Cruz’s evacuation from the White House. He also lost a close friend.

At Tuesday’s Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s “Steel Across America” remembrance event ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks, Trump said he “looked out my window” after the attack and later took a “whole crew” of his workers downtown.

Trump spoke of being near One Liberty Plaza, formerly the U.S. Steel Building, when two firefighters allegedly feared the building was about to collapse.

Trump said the firefighters grabbed him under the arms, “literally lifted me up,” and “started running with me.”

Trump previously claimed he sent hundreds of his workers to assist with recovery efforts around Ground Zero.

Fact-checkers have repeatedly stated there’s no evidence of Trump deploying his workforce to assist in the recovery operation. A former FDNY battalion chief said he had no knowledge of Trump participating in the work.