#CAIR: Donald Trump Falsely Claims He Saw 'Thousands and Thousands of People' Cheering 9/11 Attacks in New Jersey
(NY Times)
“Hey, I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering. So something’s going on. We’ve got to find out what it is.”
It was not clear what Mr. Trump was referring to. There were cheers of support in some Middle Eastern countries that day, which were broadcast on television. But a persistent Internet rumor of Muslims celebrating in Paterson, N.J., was discounted by police officials at the time. A search of news accounts from that period shows no reports of mass cheering in Jersey City.
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said the response of Muslim-Americans on Sept. 11 was disgust.
“I know because I wrote it,” he said of the council’s reaction, adding that if Mr. Trump had evidence of cheering, he should present it.
Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump, would not elaborate on his comments.