Barbara Res, the former executive vice president of construction and development for the Trump Organization, disputed Saturday’s account that former President Donald Trump boarded a helicopter that had to make an emergency landing with former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown in the 1990s.
“We were working on a very large project in California,” Res told NBC News’ Ali Vitali on MSNBC, adding, “We were working with local politicians and state politicians. And one of the very important politicians was this man. [former California state Sen.] Nate Holden.”
During a press conference Thursday, Trump told a story about a helicopter flight with Brown, telling reporters that “we were in a helicopter together going to a certain place and there was an emergency landing.”
“It wasn’t a pleasant landing and Willie was a bit worried. So I know him. I know him very well. I mean, I haven’t seen him in years, but he was telling me horrible things [Vice President Kamala Harris]”, Trump added, pointing out that Harris and Brown had only met briefly.
Asked whether Trump often confused the identities of Brown and Holden, Res said Saturday, “I don’t remember. It’s 30 years ago, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Donald doesn’t have it in his head.”
“I really think,” Res added, “Nate was, you know, a councilman, and Willie was a big guy. He was an important, influential guy. … [Trump] he wanted to be in it With Willie, because Willie was an important guy.
The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the story, but on Friday, the former president responded to a New York Times account of the helicopter story, saying, “There were ‘diaries’, maintenance records and witnesses. There was also a story about “Willie and I.”
Shortly after the former president’s press conference Thursday, Brown retracted Trump’s story. “No, I have not been in a helicopter with Donald Trump,” he told NBC News on Friday.
“Are you kidding me?” Brown said before confirming that he had never spoken to Trump about Harris.
When hearing Trump’s story, Brown added, “I laughed. I just assumed he was in the helicopter with Black Who and he just made a mistake and thought it was me.
Friday, Holden said first Politics He said he was the man in the helicopter with Trump and that the couple, plus several others, had gone to Atlantic City to tour Trump’s new Taj Mahal casino.
His account was backed up by Res, who told MSNBC: “It wasn’t like, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to crash.’ We just can’t, you know, can’t go on, so we found the nearest airport and [the pilots] dropped us off at Teterboro and everyone was fine.
“Donald was horrified,” Res said, “and after it was all over, he joked with Nate Holden, who happened to be black, and said, ‘Nate, you’re white.'”