Trump fires back at NY Times over 9/11 report, calls Maggie Haberman a ‘Fake Reporter’
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, August 28, sharply disputed a New York Times report about his plans for this year's September 11 memorial ceremony, directing much of his response at reporter Maggie Haberman.
Trump called the report “Corrupt News” and rejected the report's account that he planned to skip the New York ceremony because organizers would not allow him to give a speech. However, the newspaper said it stands by its reporting, stating that it was based on multiple people familiar with the planning.
Trump disputes 9/11 ceremony report and attacks Haberman
The New York Times reported on Thursday, August 27, that Trump's team had communicated the president's interest in speaking at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum ceremony in New York in recent weeks. The report cited three people familiar with the discussions, stating that organizers, however, did not grant the request.
NEW: Trump will not attend the annual commemoration in NYC for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, in part because he wouldn’t be allowed to give a speech. He intends to visit the Pentagon instead. W/ @maggieNYT @KannoYoungs & @danarubinstein:https://t.co/V6Lm9ZrGj4 via @NYTimes
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) August 27, 2026
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has not allowed politicians to deliver speeches during the ceremony since 2012. The report then stated that Trump was instead expected to attend a memorial service at the Pentagon on the anniversary, where he is scheduled to give a speech as well.
However, Trump rejected the report in a Truth Social post, arguing that the New York ceremony is traditionally a solemn event rather than a political speaking engagement.
"This is more Corrupt News, I’ve been to New York many times over the years, and no one ever speaks, it’s a ‘solemn ceremony!’" Trump wrote.
Maggot Hagerman, the Fake Reporter from The Failing New York Times, an unattractive person both inside and out, and who knows less about me than most reporters on the beat (She’s a SCAMMER!), made up a story that on September 11th, I’m not going to the World Trade Center, in New… pic.twitter.com/tCGGtT3wGg
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) August 28, 2026
He added that he "would love not to speak, because I’m speaking all the time," and said the day should only be focused on remembering those killed in the attacks and their families.
Trump then directed his criticism at Haberman, one of four Times reporters who worked on the story. The president referred to her as a "Fake Reporter" and "a phony" and questioned the reporting behind the story.
"She’s been falsely writing about me for years, she’s a stalker, and should be forced to turn over any and all money that she’s made through her fake reporting on me," Trump wrote.
Trump also challenged the reporting methods behind the article, arguing that Haberman should be required to identify her sources.
New York Times defends its 9/11 reporting
A spokesperson for the outlet, Charlie Stadtlander, defended the report, saying its journalists had spoken with multiple people familiar with the planning and had sought comment from the White House before publication.
"The Times’s reporting is based on information from multiple people with knowledge of the discussions and planning around New York’s September 11 ceremony," Stadtlander told the Daily Mail.
Stadtlander claimed that reporters had sought a response from the White House before publishing the story.
"Our journalists sought comment from the White House communications team, who provided a statement that didn’t contradict what we had learned," he said. "The president chose to attack the story 24 hours later, singling out one of the four reporters who wrote it. We are confident in the accuracy of the reporting."
