On Thursday former President Donald Trump shared that he and Willie Brown, the former lover of Vice President Kamala Harris, nearly faced a catastrophic helicopter incident. The former president divulged the story during his news conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, marking his first major public appearance since the Democratic ticket was solidified.

“I know Willie Brown very well. In fact, I went down in a helicopter with him. We thought, ‘Maybe this is the end.’ We were in a helicopter going to a certain location together, and there was an emergency landing. This was not a pleasant landing,” Trump said, setting the scene of a nearly disastrous flight.

“Willie was… he was a little concerned. So I know him. I know him pretty well. I mean, I haven’t seen him in years, but he told me terrible things about her. But this is what you’re telling me anyway, I guess. But he had a big part in what happened with Kamala, but he, I don’t know, maybe he’s changed,” Trump elaborated.

Trump added, “But he had a big part in what happened with Kamala, but he, I don’t know, maybe he’s changed his tune, but he was not a fan of hers very much at that point.”

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Brown, a towering figure in California politics, and Harris share a past connection that dates back to the mid-1990s. Brown, who served as the Mayor of San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 and had prior significant stints as Speaker of the California State Assembly, has been a pivotal influence in the state’s political landscape for decades.

The relationship between Harris and Brown became public and politically significant when Harris was appointed to two well-paid positions on California state boards shortly after they started dating. Brown was instrumental in these appointments; during that time he wielded considerable political power in California. Although the relationship lasted only a few years, Brown’s support played a role in Harris’s early political career. Harris, who was then working in the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, went on to become the District Attorney of San Francisco in 2003.

Harris served two terms as the District Attorney in San Francisco before she was elected California’s Attorney General in 2010. In 2016, Harris was elected to the United States Senate, and her career reached a new height when she was chosen by Joe Biden as his running mate in the 2020 presidential election, ultimately leading to her current role as Vice President.

During his press conference on Thursday, Trump did not hold back on his criticisms towards Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, while heaping praise on his own vice-presidential pick, JD Vance. Trump’s critical tone extended to Harris’s past relationship with Brown, suggesting a complicated history.

The news conference also served as a platform for Trump to announce his participation in three presidential debates in September, hosted by Fox, NBC, and ABC, with CBS set to host a vice presidential debate. Trump’s comments come as he prepares for a head-to-head debate with Kamala Harris on ABC on September 10, following the confirmation of his agreement to the debate schedule.

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