Thousands cheering in New Jersey on 9/11?
WHEN & WHERE WAS IT SAID?
When: Nov 21, 2015
Where: Campaign rally, Birmingham, Alabama
Original context / reporting ↗I watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering
WHAT HE SAID (WORD FOR WORD, SADLY)
He said, "I watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering" as the Twin Towers came down.
WHEN AND WHERE (THE RECEIPTS HAVE A CALENDAR)
Speech in Alabama, Nov. 21, 2015. The next day on ABC's 'This Week' he insisted, 'It did happen. I saw it. It was on television.'
WHAT THE RECORD SHOWS (BRING SNACKS)
- A Sept. 18, 2001 Washington Post story reported Jersey City police detained 'a number of people' allegedly celebrating; the allegation was unattributed and the Post reporter said he 'could never verify that report'.
- That is not televised and not 'thousands and thousands'.
- Former New Jersey Attorney General John Farmer Jr. said State Police reports of celebrations in Jersey City and Paterson were investigated and found false: 'Never happened.'
- PolitiFact and the Washington Post Fact Checker gave their worst ratings.
WHY THIS MATTERS
One unverified line in a 2001 article became 'thousands and thousands'.
Independent investigations found no evidence for the thousands-strong celebrations in New Jersey described by Trump.
Finding: FalseBold. Wrong, but bold.
Sources & further reading
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Editorial note: each article reports only details found in the linked sources. Where a source does not give a venue, date or exact wording, we say so instead of guessing. Quotations may need further editorial verification against primary recordings or transcripts.