Archival Footage Shows Trump at Ground Zero Two Days After 9/11 Attacks
TL/DR –
Archival footage from PBS News reveals Donald Trump, then a real estate developer, at Ground Zero two days after the 9/11 attacks, stating he was there to check on his construction crew. Trump claimed to have sent approximately 200 to 250 workers to aid in clearing rubble at the World Trade Center site. However, fact-checkers from PolitiFact were unable to verify these claims, and the footage does not appear to show anyone from a Trump construction crew.
Donald Trump’s Ground Zero Visit Post 9/11 Attack
Archival footage from PBS News reveals Donald Trump, then a real estate developer, at Ground Zero after the Twin Towers attack on September 13, 2001. Watch the clip from 2001 in the video player above.
Trump mentioned he was at the scene with his construction crew. READ MORE: Fact-checking Trump’s 9/11 response stories. He described the scene as “terrible” and “dangerous” with buildings on the verge of collapse.
Trump’s Role in 9/11 Recovery Efforts
Trump, who was constructing a building in New York at the time, claimed to have about 100 workers aiding in World Trade Center rubble removal, with an additional 100-150 “coming”. At a recent 9/11 tribute event, President Trump recounted his experience visiting the site post attack.
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Trump’s Claims Fact-Checked
Speaking at a White House ceremony on Sept 8, 2026, Trump repeated his story of sending his crew to help at Ground Zero. However, PolitiFact’s fact-check could not substantiate his claims of hundreds of aid workers. The NewsHour footage did not show any Trump construction crew. READ MORE: Why 9/11 isn’t a federal holiday
Trump’s Views on Post 9/11 Repair and Rebuilding
In the 2001 footage, Trump opined that the damage could be fixed with “the right money and the right talent”. He believed New York would be rebuilt, albeit in a different form, acknowledging the resilience of New Yorkers and the country.
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