Donald Trump has said he knows who was behind the al-Qaeda terror attacks on the US in September 2001 and added that “Iraq did not knock down the World Trade Centre”.
“It was not Iraq,” the president told ABC News. “It were other people. And I think I know who the other people were. And you might also.”
Almost 3,000 people died when 19 terrorists – most of them Saudis – hijacked four passenger planes on 11 September, 2001. Two of the planes were crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City, one into the Pentagon in Virginia and one was brought down in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back.
The al-Qaeda terror network, led by Osama bin Laden, claimed responsibility for the atrocity.
In an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, Mr Trump criticised America’s military intervention in the Middle East, which he said was ”the worst decision made in the history of our country”.
He described the region as “like quicksand” and added: ”It was a terrible decision to go into the Middle East. Terrible.
White House slams Democrat governor for urging public to track ICE agents with new video portal
Boston’s Wu orders release of ICE surveillance and bodycam footage, says fed government ‘hides behind masks’
Baltimore Mayor Plays the Race Card After Being Called Out on His $163,495 Taxpayer-Funded Vehicle
Kamala Harris Gives Clearest Indication Yet That She’s Running in 2028, Restarts 2024 Machine
Winning! Rental Prices Drop to 4-Year Low After Major Spike Under Biden
White House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
Breaking: FBI Arrests Man for Allegedly Targeting Nancy Guthrie’s Family with Demands
Los Angeles mayoral race upended by allegations Karen Bass altered fire report
Leavitt flips script on media for balking at Fulton election probe after years of promoting Russia claims
Anti-ICE ‘digital Minutemen’ use military-grade surveillance tactics against feds
Trump claims DNI Tulsi Gabbard was at Georgia election hub search because AG Pam Bondi wanted her there
Jill Biden’s ex-husband, now charged with murder, called wife ‘greatest thing in my life’
Arctic blast fuels scrutiny of Biden’s $8B electric bus push as watchdogs cite oversight failures
Jeffries risks fresh fracture with Schumer over ICE funding red line
Suspect Arrested After 30-Year-Old Woman Is Killed ‘Execution Style’ While Opening Her Business
“We’re now up to almost $8tn (£6.4tn). And when we want to build a roadway, a highway, a school, or something, everyone’s always fighting over money. It’s ridiculous. So that was a bad decision.”
He added: “And, by the way, Iraq did not knock down the World Trade Centre. It was not Iraq. It were other people. And I think I know who the other people were. And you might also. But it was a terrible decision.”
The US, backed by allies including Britain, invaded Afghanistan, where the terror group was being sheltered. But 9/11 was also used as part of the justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, more than 4,000 Americans and 179 British troops, and contributed to the rise of the Isis terror group.
Mr Trump made the remarks after he was asked why he praised Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea.
The president initially claimed he says “good things about lots of people” before remarking “I’ve done a great job” and saying “everyone thought we were going to be at war” the day after he was elected.
White House slams Democrat governor for urging public to track ICE agents with new video portal
Boston’s Wu orders release of ICE surveillance and bodycam footage, says fed government ‘hides behind masks’
Baltimore Mayor Plays the Race Card After Being Called Out on His $163,495 Taxpayer-Funded Vehicle
Kamala Harris Gives Clearest Indication Yet That She’s Running in 2028, Restarts 2024 Machine
Winning! Rental Prices Drop to 4-Year Low After Major Spike Under Biden
White House says murder rate plummeted to lowest level since 1900 under Trump administration
Breaking: FBI Arrests Man for Allegedly Targeting Nancy Guthrie’s Family with Demands
Los Angeles mayoral race upended by allegations Karen Bass altered fire report
Leavitt flips script on media for balking at Fulton election probe after years of promoting Russia claims
Anti-ICE ‘digital Minutemen’ use military-grade surveillance tactics against feds
Trump claims DNI Tulsi Gabbard was at Georgia election hub search because AG Pam Bondi wanted her there
Jill Biden’s ex-husband, now charged with murder, called wife ‘greatest thing in my life’
Arctic blast fuels scrutiny of Biden’s $8B electric bus push as watchdogs cite oversight failures
Jeffries risks fresh fracture with Schumer over ICE funding red line
Suspect Arrested After 30-Year-Old Woman Is Killed ‘Execution Style’ While Opening Her Business
He then said he had been “rebuilding the military” which he said was “totally depleted between President Bush with the Middle East” and then segued into his attack on the “terrible decision to go into the Middle East”.
Mr Trump has made several controversial remarks about the attacks on the Twin Towers.
During a Republican primary debate, the then-candidate blamed Bill Clinton and George Bush for not killing Osama bin Laden.
He said: “The World Trade Centre came down because Bill Clinton didn’t kill Osama bin Laden when he had the chance to kill him. And George Bush… by the way, George Bush had the chance, also, and he didn’t listen to the advice of his CIA.”
After the attacks, Mr Trump claimed ”thousands and thousands of people were cheering” the day the towers fell and later added that the cheers came from areas of New Jersey with “large Arab populations”.
His allegations were denied by police and Steven Fulop, the Jersey City mayor.
The former real estate mogul also used the aftermath of the attacks to brag his nearby skyscraper now held the title of highest building in Lower Manhattan.
Story cited here.
