Former Los Angeles city councilman and California state Sen. Nate Holden has come forward to clarify the confusion surrounding a helicopter emergency landing involving former President Donald Trump. Holden stated that he was the individual accompanying Trump during the incident, contrary to Trump's initial claim that it was former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.
Holden emphasized the distinction between himself and Brown, highlighting their respective locations and physical attributes. He humorously remarked on the mix-up, suggesting that the misconception may have arisen due to a perceived similarity between them.
Trump's account of the helicopter incident with Brown has been refuted by Brown himself, who denied ever being in a helicopter with the former president. This discrepancy in recollection has sparked a public exchange between the parties involved.
It has been revealed that Holden had interactions with Trump's team in the 1990s when Trump was exploring development opportunities at the Ambassador Hotel site in Los Angeles, which fell within Holden's jurisdiction at the time.
Holden recalled a specific meeting with Trump at Trump Tower, followed by a joint trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey, where they visited Trump's now-closed Taj Mahal casino. Barbara Res, Trump's former executive vice president of construction, corroborated Holden's presence on the helicopter during the emergency landing incident.
Res detailed the experience in her book, recounting the safe landing in New Jersey after the pilot declared the need for an emergency landing. She mentioned Trump's light-hearted comments during the ordeal, with Holden asserting that it was Trump who displayed apprehension during the flight.
The clarification provided by Holden sheds light on the sequence of events surrounding the helicopter incident and offers a more accurate account of the individuals involved. The differing perspectives presented by the parties underscore the complexities of memory and perception in recalling past events.
