Trump says helicopter ‘went down’ with ex-San Francisco mayor in ’emergency landing’, says it never happened

CNN
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Former President Donald Trump recounted to reporters Thursday the story of his helicopter emergency landing with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

Asked by a reporter about his previous relationship with Vice President Kamala Harris Brown and whether it helped his career path, Trump said he knew Brown “well” and told a story about the alleged helicopter incident.

“I know Willie Brown very well. In fact, I also went with him in a helicopter. We thought maybe this would be the end. We were on our way together in a helicopter to a certain location and there was an emergency landing,” Trump told reporters gathered at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for his first news conference since the Democratic ticket was announced.

“It wasn’t a smooth landing, Willie, he was a little worried. So I know him, I know him well. I mean, I haven’t seen him in years,” Trump continued.

However, Brown dismissed Trump’s account as “blatantly false” during a phone call with CNN late Thursday, adding: “I’ve never been in a helicopter with him in my life.”

“He’s doing everything he can to discredit Kamal,” he said of former mayor Trump and the Democratic presidential contender.

Asked about Brown’s rebuttal of the former president’s story, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung responded, “Slick Willie!” He replied.

The New York Times On Thursday, the former president appeared to confuse Willie Brown with former California Gov. Jerry Brown, with whom he toured wildfire damage by helicopter in November 2018.

A spokesperson for Jerry Brown told the Times that “there was no emergency landing and no discussion about Kamala Harris.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the governor-elect who toured the wildfires in 2018, said of Trump’s account, “I call absolute BS,” according to the Times.

“I was in the helicopter with Jerry Brown and Trump, and it didn’t go down,” Newsom told the Times, adding that Trump repeatedly brought up the possibility of a crash.

Right-wing media figures have denigrated Harris as a “mistress” for her previous relationship with Brown — which occurred after Brown separated from his wife and was not secret — among other attacks.

During Thursday’s news conference, Trump said he was “not a fan” of Willie Brown Harris and that he had said “terrible things” to him about him.

When asked about those claims, Brown told CNN: “No. Why me? Please give me a break.

CNN’s Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.