Cruz Defends Trump 9/11 Claim
Sen. Ted Cruz Defends Trump's Disputed 9/11 Account Amid Scrutiny
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Key Points
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Cruz described his own experience on Sept. 11, saying he was in Washington, lived less than a mile from the Pentagon, and that his wife, Heidi, was evacuated from the White House complex before walking home barefoot after losing access to her car.
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The episode carried political significance for Cruz: Trump remains highly popular among Texas Republican primary voters, so refusing to defend the current president could expose Cruz to a right-wing primary challenge.
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Cruz and Trump were once bitter rivals in the 2016 Republican presidential primary; Trump called Cruz “Lyin’ Ted” and mocked his wife, while Cruz described Trump as a “pathological liar.”
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Trump’s account specifically placed him inside One Liberty Plaza, formerly known as the U.S. Steel building, where he said he heard structural creaking before two firefighters helped him leave; the articles note that he did not specify the date of the visit.
Sen. Ted Cruz defended President Donald Trump's disputed account of his actions near Ground Zero on September 11, saying the tragedy was traumatic and that Trump's memory reflected his own experience as a New Yorker. During a CNN interview, HuffPost reported that Cruz claimed Trump was carried to safety by two firefighters from a building near the site. The defense quickly backfired when Cruz appeared to misspeak, saying he had "every doubt" instead of "no doubt" about Trump's account — a slip that sparked widespread online ridicule and prompted speculation about a Freudian slip.
Fact-checkers found no evidence that Trump was at Ground Zero on September 11 or 12, according to Yahoo News. The earliest known image of Trump near the site was dated September 13, 2001. Trump specifically claimed he was inside One Liberty Plaza (formerly the U.S. Steel building) when he heard structural creaking before firefighters helped him leave, though he did not specify the date of his visit.
Cruz's Own 9/11 Experience and Political Vulnerability
Cruz shared his personal September 11 account during the CNN segment. He said he was in Washington that day and lived less than a mile from the Pentagon. His wife, Heidi, was evacuated from the White House complex but lost access to her car and had to walk home barefoot. The senator's defense of Trump carries political weight: Trump remains hugely popular with Texas Republican primary voters, so refusing to back the current president could expose Cruz to a primary challenge.
From "Lyin' Ted" to Trump's Loyal Defender
Cruz and Trump were once fierce enemies. In the 2016 Republican primary, Trump called Cruz "Lyin' Ted" and mocked his wife. Cruz fired back, describing Trump as a "pathological liar." Their bitter history makes Cruz's recent defense noteworthy: he has shifted from Trump critic to Trump ally, a change driven by Trump's overwhelming support among Republican voters in Texas.
The "Every Doubt" Slip That Sparked Online Mockery
During the interview with CNN host Kaitlan Collins, Cruz defended Trump while also appearing to question the account he was defending. HuffPost noted that Collins challenged the claim, suggesting it could sound as though Trump had been pulled from the rubble. Cruz argued that people could doubt Trump but should recognize he is a New Yorker who loves his city. Then came the misstep: Cruz said he had "every doubt" rather than "no doubt" about Trump's account, instantly contradicting his defense and triggering widespread mockery online.
What the Facts Show About Trump's September 11 Whereabouts
Yahoo News reported that fact-checkers found no evidence Trump was at Ground Zero on September 11 or September 12. Accounts do support that people feared nearby buildings might collapse in those early hours. However, the earliest known photograph of Trump near the site is dated September 13, 2001 — two days after the attacks. Trump's specific claim about being inside One Liberty Plaza and hearing structural creaking remains unverified by independent sources.
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