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It has taken at least 10 journalists to chase down Trump's fabrication about the helicopter--and yet, the story, ultimately, is that he was lying about Kamala, just like he was throughout his entire presser.

Imagine all the way that journalists could better spend their time? https://t.co/SUFMxjwCW5

— emptywheel (irrational exuberance) (@emptywheel) August 10, 2024

This is the curious thing: the point of Trump’s story was the lie that Willie Brown disparaged Kamala Harris to Trump. That lie was within the lie of the helicopter ride, but Willie Brown discarded the two lies shortly after the story got any attention.

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle after the news conference, Willie Brown, who dated Harris years ago in San Francisco, denied multiple aspects of Trump's account. “You would have known if I had gone down on a helicopter with Trump,” he said, according to the newspaper. “I’ve never been on a helicopter with Trump.”

So off and away on the question of the helicopter!

Trump's story about being in a rough helicopter landing with Willie Brown was actually with Jerry Brown, and there was no rough landing. Everything about the story was false, both men said. https://t.co/caM7hfNxm9

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 9, 2024

"Everything about the story [is] false,” which still sounds like the important part of the story is the helicopter. But the point of Trump’s story was Brown badmouthing Harris. As I say, Brown said that never happened. But the focus of the narrative remains on whether or not the trip happened.

Update: Trump did have an emergency landing in a helicopter, but the politician he was with wasn’t Willie Brown. https://t.co/zn1wMWNudw

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 10, 2024

And, obviously, there was no discussion on the helicopter about Ms. Harris. But that’s not what really matters!

This seems to be it. Old Don got two blacks guys with totally different appearances and professional backgrounds confused with each other and added in a whole part about "willie brown" trashing Kamala. https://t.co/PXI0ooabQa

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) August 10, 2024

Or, Trump just lies.  About everything. He not only was never on a helicopter with Willie Brown, Mr. Brown never gossiped to Trump about Ms. Harris. Didn’t we know that already?