When the Press Attacks Donald Trump, the Truth Is Optional

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump recently claimed that following the attacks on 9/11, he saw a large number of people in Jersey City, New Jersey, “cheering” as the towers went down.

Trump initially made the claim in a speech in Birmingham, Ala., and then doubled down on it during an interview with host George Stephanopoulos on ABC This Week. There were a few reports of celebrations overseas, in Muslim countries, but nothing that we can find involving the Arab populations of New Jersey except for unconfirmed reports.

According to the same source, the Star-Ledger reported that there were rumors of celebrations by Muslims in Newark and Paterson, but they were not confirmed, as police and local leaders denied they ever took place.

“I saw it on TV, but there weren’t thousands of people- probably hundreds”, said Eric, a caller in Stockton. “It was on television … There were people who were cheering on the other side of New Jersey, where you have large Arab populations, they were cheering when the World Trade Center came down”. “They were cheering as the World Trade Center came down”, said Trump.

“I saw people, and I saw ’em, on television, and I read about it on the Internet, and I read about it, so they said, ‘Oh!” He added: “No one in Jersey City cheered on September 11”. I think if it had happened, I would remember it. But, you know, there could be things I forget, too. There is dishonesty here, but it is on the part of NPR, the NY Times and the Associated Press, not Donald Trump. “Much of that has, indeed, faded from memory”, said Kovaleski, who’s now an investigative reporter for The NY Times.

I remember horrific stories, not celebrations on USA soil. And that tells you something.”A spokeswoman did not respond to a request for clarification Saturday about Trumps comments.In a statement, Jersey City Mayor Fulop criticized Trump for his statements.“Trump is plain wrong, and he is shamefully politicizing an emotionally charged issue, ” said Fulop. The Republican front runner even claimed that thousands In Jersey City were full of joy on 9/11, says The New Jersey. Though his denial of Trump’s charges was less terse, Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey, one of Trump’s Republican presidential rivals, also cast doubt on the real-estate magnate’s claims.

Trump himself also demanded an apology from The Washington Post later Monday linking to the 2001 article referencing murky reports of allegations of celebrating. However, he said he did not see any Muslims celebrating. “Thousands of people were cheering”. I want surveillance of certain mosques, OK?