A resurfaced phone interview shows Donald Trump, 79, boasting that his downtown building had become Manhattan’s tallest just hours after the Twin Towers fell on September 11, 2001.
The then-real-estate-developer spoke to WWOR/UPN 9 News on the day of the attacks, describing a “huge explosion” he had witnessed after hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center. When asked whether Trump Tower had increased security, he pivoted to the height of 40 Wall Street, a property he owned several blocks from Ground Zero.
“40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan, and it was actually, before the World Trade Center, was the tallest—and then, when they built the World Trade Center, it became known as the second-tallest,” he said in the broadcast. “And now it’s the tallest.”
Forbes later noted that Trump’s claim was inaccurate: 70 Pine Street, located just one block from 40 Wall Street, stands 25 feet taller. The exchange, captured on live television, has circulated widely online as the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches this Wednesday.
The clip has drawn sharp reactions across social platforms. One X user labeled Trump’s immediate response “evil,” while a YouTube commenter wrote: “This interview is astonishing to hear.” A third listener added: “Even at that point he had to point out that his building was then the tallest building in NY…”
Trump, who was working in New York at the time of the attacks, will not attend the commemorative ceremony at Ground Zero this week. Reports said that his administration withdrew after learning of a longstanding policy barring political figures from addressing the crowd.
The White House issued a statement that did not directly address the resurfaced footage. “As a proud New Yorker, President Trump has spoken about his own experiences watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001,” it said. “On the 25th anniversary of this tragic day, the President will remember those who were killed at the hands of evil terrorists, honor their loved ones, and pay tribute to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line to rescue their fellow Americans.”
The September 11 attacks killed 2,977 people after al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes. Two aircraft struck the Twin Towers in New York, a third hit the Pentagon in Virginia, and a fourth crashed into a Pennsylvania field after passengers fought back against the hijackers. The coordinated assault stands as the deadliest terrorist attack in modern history.
Trump will deliver remarks at the Pentagon on the anniversary instead of appearing in New York.