In a speech at Naval Station Norfolk during the Navy 250 Celebration, Donald Trump reiterated his claim that he foresaw the 9/11 attacks and could have prevented them if his warnings were taken seriously. He emphasized that he had highlighted Osama bin Laden’s threat a year before the World Trade Center tragedy, insisting that the media would not acknowledge this unless it was true. Trump stated that in a book written prior to the attacks, he had expressed concerns about bin Laden and urged action to address the issue.
Contrary to Trump’s assertions, he did not predict the 9/11 attacks. His book, “The America We Deserve,” published over 18 months before the attacks, briefly mentioned bin Laden as a security threat to the U.S. Despite the timing differences from what Trump claimed, the book did acknowledge bin Laden’s danger to national security.
During his visit to the Navy base, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, along with government officials, observed a military demonstration on the USS George H. W. Bush. Navy destroyers launched missiles, SEALs performed drills, and fighter jets demonstrated their capabilities. However, the government shutdown that commenced recently has led to partisan disputes, with Democrats being blamed by Trump for the shutdown affecting military personnel and federal projects.
As the shutdown unfolded, Senate Democrats opposed efforts to maintain government operations, citing concerns about healthcare subsidies and Medicaid cuts. Trump accused Democrats of causing mass layoffs due to the shutdown and criticized them for hindering the Navy 250 Celebration event. Despite the ongoing political tensions, Trump highlighted what he described as a thriving economy and attributed any layoffs to Democratic actions.
Throughout his interactions with the media, Trump emphasized his readiness to address the shutdown’s impact and portrayed Democrats as responsible for the current situation. He reiterated his focus on economic success and blamed Democrats for any negative consequences arising from the shutdown.