Trump Mixes-Up Black Men on Chopper Ride, Threatens to Sue
As he falls behind in the polls, it appears Donald Trump confused one Black man for another Black man on a harrowing helicopter ride. And now he’s threatening to sue.
As the polls start to tighten and the 2024 election cycle heats up, former President Donald Trump finds himself in an awkward situation, having apparently mistaken one Black man for another during a traumatic helicopter ride. The incident has sparked threats of legal action and has brought unwanted attention to Trump's campaign, with racial mix-ups becoming a recurring theme for the former president.
It all started when Trump recounted a near-death experience during a helicopter ride from Manhattan to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1999. Trump claimed that during the harrowing journey, one particular passenger, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, had turned "white with fear." However, it emerged that the man in question was not Willie Brown at all, but former Los Angeles city councilman and state senator Nate Holden.
Holden, a tall Black man from Los Angeles, understandably took issue with Trump's mistake, jokingly commenting, "I guess we all look alike." He clarified the distinction between himself and Brown, highlighting their different locations and physical attributes. Despite this obvious mix-up, Trump has doubled down on his claim, threatening to sue The New York Times for reporting that Brown denied the incident.
Maggie Haberman, the reporter who broke the story, provided insight into her interaction with Trump. She recalled how Trump made fun of her request to see the records he claimed to possess, using a "child sing-song voice" to mock her inquiry. Haberman, however, noted that Trump's focus on proving this incident, rather than his presidential campaign, was indicative of his tendency to fixate on personal grievances when under stress.
The racial confusion comes at a particularly sensitive time for Trump, as he trails his Black opponent, Kamala Harris, in three crucial battleground states, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. Harris has surged ahead by four points in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, underscoring the importance of addressing racial issues for any aspiring president.
The helicopter ride in question occurred during a meeting between Holden and Trump at Trump Tower. They were planning to visit Trump's new Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. Joining them on the flight were Trump's late brother, Robert, attorney Harvey Freedman, and Barbara Res, Trump's former executive vice president of construction and development.
Res, in her book, "All Alone on the 68th Floor," corroborated the story of the emergency landing, describing how the helicopter was "shaking like crazy." Despite Trump's claim that Holden had turned white, Holden insisted that it was Trump who was scared, describing him as "white as snow" and "scared s***less."
Adding to the intrigue, Holden refuted Trump's claim that Vice President Kamala Harris was discussed during the ride, suggesting that Trump either "mixed it up" or "made it up." The mix-up between Holden and Brown has attracted significant media attention, with Holden stating that the press is searching for the truth and finally getting it.
As the campaign progresses, Trump will need to navigate these sensitive racial dynamics more effectively if he hopes to regain the presidency in 2024. This incident, though seemingly harmless, highlights the potential consequences of such mistakes and the impact they can have on public perception and electoral success.
It all started when Trump recounted a near-death experience during a helicopter ride from Manhattan to Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1999. Trump claimed that during the harrowing journey, one particular passenger, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, had turned "white with fear." However, it emerged that the man in question was not Willie Brown at all, but former Los Angeles city councilman and state senator Nate Holden.
Holden, a tall Black man from Los Angeles, understandably took issue with Trump's mistake, jokingly commenting, "I guess we all look alike." He clarified the distinction between himself and Brown, highlighting their different locations and physical attributes. Despite this obvious mix-up, Trump has doubled down on his claim, threatening to sue The New York Times for reporting that Brown denied the incident.
Maggie Haberman, the reporter who broke the story, provided insight into her interaction with Trump. She recalled how Trump made fun of her request to see the records he claimed to possess, using a "child sing-song voice" to mock her inquiry. Haberman, however, noted that Trump's focus on proving this incident, rather than his presidential campaign, was indicative of his tendency to fixate on personal grievances when under stress.
The racial confusion comes at a particularly sensitive time for Trump, as he trails his Black opponent, Kamala Harris, in three crucial battleground states, according to a New York Times/Siena College poll. Harris has surged ahead by four points in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, underscoring the importance of addressing racial issues for any aspiring president.
The helicopter ride in question occurred during a meeting between Holden and Trump at Trump Tower. They were planning to visit Trump's new Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City. Joining them on the flight were Trump's late brother, Robert, attorney Harvey Freedman, and Barbara Res, Trump's former executive vice president of construction and development.
Res, in her book, "All Alone on the 68th Floor," corroborated the story of the emergency landing, describing how the helicopter was "shaking like crazy." Despite Trump's claim that Holden had turned white, Holden insisted that it was Trump who was scared, describing him as "white as snow" and "scared s***less."
Adding to the intrigue, Holden refuted Trump's claim that Vice President Kamala Harris was discussed during the ride, suggesting that Trump either "mixed it up" or "made it up." The mix-up between Holden and Brown has attracted significant media attention, with Holden stating that the press is searching for the truth and finally getting it.
As the campaign progresses, Trump will need to navigate these sensitive racial dynamics more effectively if he hopes to regain the presidency in 2024. This incident, though seemingly harmless, highlights the potential consequences of such mistakes and the impact they can have on public perception and electoral success.