What a crazy story.
On Thursday, former President Donald Trump recounted a dramatic episode from his past involving a helicopter ride with Willie Brown, the ex-boyfriend of Vice President Kamala Harris. Brown, who served as San Francisco’s mayor from 1996 to 2004, had a relationship with Harris in the mid-1990s, a connection that has often been scrutinized by critics who suggest it played a role in Harris’ political ascent. Trump mentioned that he hadn’t seen Brown in years but felt he knew him “pretty well.”
During a press conference at his Florida estate, Trump shared a harrowing experience from a helicopter trip with Brown. “We thought we might be facing the end,” Trump described. He recounted how they encountered a serious emergency during their flight, leading to an unpleasant landing.
Trump’s helicopter experiences are not new to his public narrative. In October 1989, Trump’s company suffered a tragedy when three of his top executives died in a helicopter crash. Trump labeled them as “three fabulous young men in the prime of their lives,” and this event played a part in his decision to separate from his then-wife, Ivana Trump. Trump claimed he was nearly on that helicopter, but he was too preoccupied to join them. However, some have disputed this claim. Bernie Dillon, a vice president at Trump Sports and Entertainment, and Barbara Res, a former Trump Organization employee, have both denied Trump’s assertion that he was scheduled to be on the helicopter.
Regarding Brown’s relationship with Harris, he has claimed he introduced Harris to Trump when he visited New York City in the 1990s. Trump sought Brown’s advice on real estate in Los Angeles, and while Harris didn’t attend the meeting, Brown said she traveled on Trump’s plane from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Teterboro, New Jersey. Brown has a photograph of the trip, according to Politico.
In Thursday’s press conference, Trump suggested that Brown played a significant role in the early political landscape of Kamala Harris, implying that Brown had shared negative opinions about her with him. However, Trump noted that Brown might have changed his perspective over time.
Brown, who no longer maintains contact with Harris, has recently advocated for President Joe Biden to step down so Harris can assume the presidency. Despite expressing concerns about Harris potentially suffering from “Hillary syndrome,” Brown has praised her as kind and believes she could win the election, though he also acknowledged that California Governor Gavin Newsom might have to wait for his turn.
For his part, Brown has referred to Trump merely as an “entertainer” and attributed his success to his entertainment persona rather than his political or business achievements.
