bs ... Fact-checking Trump's claim that thousands in New Jersey cheered when World Trade Center tumbled
By Lauren Carroll <http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/staff/lauren-carroll/> on Sunday, November 22nd, 2015 at 6:17 p.m. Raw: Moon Photobombs Earth AP Donald Trump on Saturday tried to back away from his support for a government database to track Muslims in the United States, an idea that drew sharp rebukes from his Republican presidential rivals and disbelief from legal experts. Arguing that there are terrorist sympathizers in the United States, Donald Trump says he saw "thousands" of New Jerseyans celebrating after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. "I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down," the Republican presidential candidate said at a Nov. 21 rally in Birmingham, Ala. "And I watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering." The next day, ABC *This Week* host George Stephanopoulos asked Trump if he misspoke, noting that "the police say that didn't happen." Trump -- who has said he was in his Manhattan apartment <http://www.amazon.com/Where-Were-10-Year-Commemorative-Edition-ebook/dp/B005KBPSX8> the morning of the attack -- doubled down. "It was on television. I saw it," Trump said. "It was well covered at the time, George. Now, I know they don't like to talk about it, but it was well covered at the time. There were people over in New Jersey that were watching it, a heavy Arab population, that were cheering as the buildings came down. Not good." We looked back at the record to see what we could find about American Muslim celebrations in New Jersey on 9/11. While we found widely broadcast video <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-p1LEBAujE> of people in the Palestinian territories celebrating, we found no evidence to back up Trump’s description of events on American soil. *Urban myth* We conducted an exhaustive search of newspaper and television transcripts on LexisNexis, looking for reports from September 2001 through December 2001 that made any mention of Muslims in New Jersey celebrating the 9/11 attacks. Regarding Jersey City, which Trump mentioned specifically, we found two uncorroborated and unsourced mentions. Neither begins to approach the scale Trump described. The *Associated Press*, on Sept. 17, 2001, described "rumors of rooftop celebrations of the attack by Muslims" in Jersey City. But the same report said those rumors were "unfounded." The *Washington Post*, on Sept. 18, 2001, published an article that claimed "law enforcement authorities detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river." The *Post *story includes no source for this information, and we found no evidence that any of these allegations ever stuck. A more rampant rumor <http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/07/26/us-usa-muslims-idUSN2536037320070726#gxyRGzZy66bkQ25H.97> of Muslim or Arab-Americans cheering the attacks centered around nearby Paterson, N.J. But that turned out to be just a rumor, spawned by chain emails and perpetuated by shock jock Howard Stern’s radio show. The *Star-Ledger* reported that as the rumors spread, "Paterson police rushed to South Main Street, the center of the city's Middle Eastern community." "When we got there, they were all in prayer," Paterson Police Chief Lawrence Spagnola said. Three percent of New Jersey residents are Muslim -- the highest of any state --according to Pew Research Center <http://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/compare/religious-tradition/by/state/>. Suspected 9/11 terrorists had ties to Jersey City and Paterson. But there is no conclusive evidence that any New Jersey residents celebrated the attacks, and there is no evidence whatsoever of any demonstrations where "thousands and thousands of people" cheered. Nor is there any evidence Trump saw these events play out in any way, be it on TV or in person. We reached out to Trump’s campaign but didn’t hear back. What we did find are many stories of Muslims living in New Jersey speaking out against the attacks and bracing themselves for anti-Muslim backlash. For example, Paterson residents put up a banner <http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/15/us/after-attacks-suburbs-candles-hope-burn-for-those-who-did-not-return-tuesday.html> on the city’s main street that said "The Muslim Community Does Not Support Terrorism.'' Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop responded <http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/11/trump_thousands_in_jersey_city_cheered_on_911.html> to Trump’s statement on Twitter, saying Trump "has memory issues or willfully distorts the truth." *Our ruling* Trump said he "watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering" as the World Trade Center collapsed. This defies basic logic. If thousands and thousands of people were celebrating the 9/11 attacks on American soil, many people beyond Trump would remember it. And in the 21st century, there would be video or visual evidence. Instead, all we found were a couple of news articles that described rumors of celebrations that were either debunked or unproven. Trump’s recollection of events in New Jersey in the hours after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks flies in the face of all the evidence we could find. We rate this statement Pants on Fire. On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 4:30:42 PM UTC-5, KeithInTampa wrote: > > Trump was 100 percent correct on his statement that he witnessed a > multitude of Muslims celebrating after te 9/11 attack. I remember the > reports also: > > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3auKMHkZJnQ > > > https://www.facebook.com/428978587288437/videos/486795458173416/?pnref=story > > On Tue, Jul 12, 2016 at 5:12 PM, plainolamerican <[email protected] > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> the right to call their unions "marriage" by the Supreme Court wasn't >> enough; now they insist on forcing unwilling artists to attend and >> participate in their weddings >> --- >> your homophobia has been noted. >> LGBT's are getting equal rights ... regardless of what myth believing >> xians and muzzies want. >> Sane and logical Americans have their backs ... no longer will myth >> believing xians be able to kill and persecute them with impunity. >> >> What lie(s) did Trump tell *specifically* about hispanics, illegals, and >> --- >> Donald Trump has built his 2016 campaign for President largely on >> demonizing Hispanic Americans by claiming that immigrants from south of the >> border are “rapists” and “criminals” and other insults, while suggesting >> that he would round up all eleven million undocumented immigrants and cast >> them off. Not surprisingly, that’s made him popular with the prejudiced >> white conservatives who dominate the republican party. But now Trump is >> claiming that he has 31% of the Hispanic vote – which is a huge lie. >> >> >> Muslims? >> --- >> Trump's outrageous claim that 'thousands' of New Jersey Muslims ... >> <https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/22/donald-trumps-outrageous-claim-that-thousands-of-new-jersey-muslims-celebrated-the-911-attacks/> >> https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../donald-*trumps*-outrageous-*c*... >> <https://www.google.com/#> >> >> 1. >> >> <https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=599&q=related:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/11/22/donald-trumps-outrageous-claim-that-thousands-of-new-jersey-muslims-celebrated-the-911-attacks/+Trump+claimed+thousands+of+muslims+NJ+dancing+on+911.&tbo=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjujaba6u7NAhWKaT4KHUvyDScQHwgfMAA> >> >> The Washington Post >> Nov 22, 2015 - Trump's outrageous claim that 'thousands' of New Jersey >> Muslims celebrated the9/11 attacks ... And in a foreword for a book >> titled “Where Were You On 9/11?,” Trump ... There were no flags burning, >> no one was dancing. >> >> >> On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 3:55:13 PM UTC-5, Perplexed wrote: >>> >>> >>> What lie(s) did Trump tell *specifically* about hispanics, illegals, and >>> Muslims? Name them and prove they are lies; thanks. >>> >>> And maybe, like millions of Americans, Trump sees that the LGBT crowd >>> will never be satisfied. Being granted the right to call their unions >>> "marriage" by the Supreme Court wasn't enough; now they insist on forcing >>> unwilling artists to attend and participate in their weddings, and to force >>> 6th grade girls all over America to shower and change with boys with >>> penises - because they claim to *feel* like girls. Maybe he sees the >>> slippery slope we are sliding down in trampling the rights of some over >>> others over nothing but emotion and the psychological need to be deemed >>> "normal". >>> >>> On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 4:35:13 PM UTC-4, plainolamerican wrote: >>>> >>>> up until Donald Trump became the prime contender for he Republican >>>> Nominee; NO ONE ever suggested that Donald Trump was a racist, or a bigot; >>>> or was Ant-Semitic; nor was it suggested that Trump was a Homophobe or an >>>> Islamophobe >>>> --- >>>> that was before he started lying about hispanics and illegals, muslims >>>> and changed his opinions about lgbt's. >>>> >>>> yes, Trump is a bigot, racist, homophobe, islamophobe and a huge NYC >>>> asshole that Americans will never elect. >>>> >>>> I know it's going to hurt, Keith, but start learning to say President >>>> Clinton again. >>>> >>>> On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 1:42:13 PM UTC-5, KeithInTampa wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Hey Bruce, >>>>> >>>>> Trump has made no excuse(s) for his tweets, Facebook posts, or in >>>>> particular the post being referenced (which he didn't do, that we're >>>>> discussing now; a meme portraying "Lying Crooked Hil Clinton" with an >>>>> image behind her of money floating around, and a red star stating "Most >>>>> Corrupt Candidate Ever": >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> There's no reference to Jews in this meme. The Trump campaign changed >>>>> the image shortly after complaints, which Donald Trump vociferously >>>>> complained about. >>>>> >>>>> As Perp and others have stated frequently; up until Donald Trump >>>>> became the prime contender for he Republican Nominee; NO ONE ever >>>>> suggested >>>>> that Donald Trump was a racist, or a bigot; or was Ant-Semitic; nor was >>>>> it >>>>> suggested that Trump was a Homophobe or an Islamophobe. As Perp >>>>> rightfully >>>>> points out, this is a tactic right out of the Saual Alinsky/Marshall >>>>> Kirk/Hunter Madsen playbooks. >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Jul 12, 2016 at 2:16 PM, Brian Bednarek <[email protected]> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I am on the record as disliking both Hillary and Trump ... I don't >>>>>> feel either should be President!!! I also never voted for our current >>>>>> President nor the one before that ... I do admit that I voted for Bill >>>>>> Clinton the first time, but not the second!!! >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tue, Jul 12, 2016 at 2:10 PM, 'Perplexed' via PoliticalForum < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> You should be aware of the implications when legions of leftloons in >>>>>>> this country wake up each day looking for reasons to claim victim >>>>>>> status or >>>>>>> to be aggrieved about something. Millions of Americans finally reaches >>>>>>> the >>>>>>> breaking point with this ignorant crap and tells you to stfu or simply >>>>>>> laughs at you and the ignorant leftwing media parroting your idiocy >>>>>>> (and >>>>>>> ironically, *your* bigotry). >>>>>>> >>>>>>> The left shot their wad calling anyone who disagreed with Obama on >>>>>>> anything a "racist" for the past 8 years. And all you've done for the >>>>>>> past >>>>>>> year is claim Trump is a scary racist and Islamophobe for wanting to >>>>>>> end >>>>>>> the relentless assault on this country by illegal aliens and the clear >>>>>>> and >>>>>>> present danger of radical Islamic terrorists using our open borders to >>>>>>> infiltrate America and harm our citizenry. No offense, but I personally >>>>>>> don't give an ounce of credence to pretty much anything you guys >>>>>>> proclaim >>>>>>> is the latest national outrage - particularly when it involves such >>>>>>> lazy, >>>>>>> effortless manufactured outrage such as claiming a political enemy is a >>>>>>> racist, homophobe, or anti-Semitic. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 11:37:47 AM UTC-4, brine wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> The point is that as a New Yorker the person who does his tweets >>>>>>>> should be aware of the implications of a 6 pointed star and money in >>>>>>>> an >>>>>>>> image!!! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Tue, Jul 12, 2016 at 11:24 AM, 'Perplexed' via PoliticalForum < >>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> No, I didn't grow up in the NY metro area, nor did most Americans >>>>>>>>> spend their lives around the 2% who are Jewish. On the contrary, most >>>>>>>>> of us >>>>>>>>> grew up in places where a 6-pointed star - or any star - is seen more >>>>>>>>> often >>>>>>>>> in the context of a sheriff's badge. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> I grew up in the Midwest, and as I said, most of us don't spend >>>>>>>>> our time looking for ways to be a victim or offended. We leave that >>>>>>>>> kind of >>>>>>>>> insanity to those of you on the coasts and our unfortunate pockets of >>>>>>>>> miserable, constantly aggrieved leftwing nutjobs. In my state, >>>>>>>>> thankfully >>>>>>>>> they only exist on college campuses and a couple of metro areas; the >>>>>>>>> rest >>>>>>>>> of us are sane. :) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 10:33:54 AM UTC-4, brine wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I guess you didn't grow up in the New York metro area and spend >>>>>>>>>> most of you life around Jewish people ... there is a long history of >>>>>>>>>> symbolism attacking Jews for being greedy ... I ALWAYS see the 6 >>>>>>>>>> pointed >>>>>>>>>> star as the Star of David!!! >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Jul 12, 2016 at 9:55 AM, 'Perplexed' via PoliticalForum < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> I couldn't possibly disagree more with you. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> If you go to the Clip Art choices in Microsoft Word under the >>>>>>>>>>> generic category of "STAR", you see the very same 6-pointed star. >>>>>>>>>>> The vast >>>>>>>>>>> majority of people don't think like that - including me. Never in a >>>>>>>>>>> million >>>>>>>>>>> years would I have assumed that was a Star of David. But then >>>>>>>>>>> again, I also >>>>>>>>>>> don't assume welfare is racist. I don't look for signs someone is a >>>>>>>>>>> bigot >>>>>>>>>>> or a reason to scream, "Racist!" or "Anti-Semite!". >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Only those who, themselves, are inherently bigoted or afflicted >>>>>>>>>>> with the leftloon disease of being terminally aggrieved and >>>>>>>>>>> offended >>>>>>>>>>> (whether honestly as the leftwing victimology machine dictates or >>>>>>>>>>> dishonestly as a means to attack Trump) jumped to the conclusion >>>>>>>>>>> that was a >>>>>>>>>>> Star of David. >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> The man's daughter and son-in-law are Jewish, for crying out >>>>>>>>>>> loud. Get a grip! >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Monday, July 11, 2016 at 7:00:35 PM UTC-4, brine wrote: >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> The anti-semetic aspect of the tweet is the fact that it plays >>>>>>>>>>>> into the stereotype of money grubbing jews ... the Disney thing >>>>>>>>>>>> and many >>>>>>>>>>>> others that use a star are not pushing an agenda ... I am 100% >>>>>>>>>>>> sure that >>>>>>>>>>>> the person who tweets for Mr. Trump was aware of the symbolism ... >>>>>>>>>>>> I have >>>>>>>>>>>> worked in advertizing, graphics and printing my whole adult life >>>>>>>>>>>> ... >>>>>>>>>>>> nothing is random or benign!!! >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>>>>>>> For options & help see >>>>>>>>> http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ >>>>>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>>>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> --- >>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>> Groups "PoliticalForum" group. >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> brine >>>>>>>> http://brineb.blogspot.com/ >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>>>>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>>>>> >>>>>>> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ >>>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> --- >>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>> Groups "PoliticalForum" group. >>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> brine >>>>>> http://brineb.blogspot.com/ >>>>>> >>>>>> -- >>>>>> -- >>>>>> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >>>>>> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >>>>>> >>>>>> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ >>>>>> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >>>>>> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >>>>>> >>>>>> --- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "PoliticalForum" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >> -- >> Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. >> For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum >> >> * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ >> * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. >> * Read the latest breaking news, and more. >> >> --- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "PoliticalForum" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected] <javascript:>. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
