The Additional Black Politician Who Claims He Accompanied Trump During the Alleged Near-Fatal Helicopter Incident
In an exclusive interview late Friday, former Los Angeles city councilmember and state senator Nate Holden reflected on his vivid recollection of the near-death experience.
TroibNews 
A man who nearly experienced a helicopter accident with Donald Trump reported to POLITICO that Trump mistakenly identified him as former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, contradicting Trump’s own claim that it was indeed Brown.
This individual was Nate Holden, an ex-city councilmember and state senator from Los Angeles, who vividly recalled the life-threatening incident during an exclusive interview on a late Friday. Holden and others believe the event occurred around 1990.
“Willie is the short Black guy living in San Francisco,” Holden said. “I’m a tall Black guy living in Los Angeles.”
“I guess we all look alike,” Holden told POLITICO, releasing a loud laugh.
Now 95, Holden was engaged with Trump and his associates during the '90s when the prominent New York developer was attempting to develop the site of the historic Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Holden, who represented the district back then, was a supporter of this project.
Holden was prompted to speak out after watching Trump’s press conference on a Thursday, where Trump asserted that Brown was the one on the hair-raising helicopter flight.
Holden recounts first meeting Trump at Trump Tower before heading to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to tour Trump's new Taj Mahal casino. In the lobby of Trump Tower, amidst greetings of “senator” from several individuals around, Holden felt that the host, Trump, seemed slighted.
“He said, ‘You know I own this building but nobody seems to know who I am,’” Holden recollected Trump complain.
Concern filled Holden about the helicopter journey due to a tragic crash in 1989 near Forked River, New Jersey, that claimed the lives of five individuals, including three executives from Trump's casinos.
Yet, according to Holden, Trump was reassuring, praising the capabilities of their two pilots and encouraging him to “look at the sky” and appreciate its beauty.
Also present were Trump’s late brother, Robert, the lawyer Harvey Freedman, and Barbara Res, Trump’s former executive vice president of construction and development. Res told POLITICO that she clearly remembered the incident, which she detailed in her book, “All Alone on the 68th Floor.”
Res affirmed that the individual onboard was certainly Nate Holden, silencing rumors about Willie Brown’s involvement. She depicted a tense moment during the flight, observing the co-pilot act urgently to address mechanical issues.
“Very shortly thereafter the pilot let us know he had lost some instruments and we would need to make an emergency landing,” she documented. “By now, the helicopter was shaking like crazy.”
After managing a turbulent landing in New Jersey, Holden and Res were able to enjoy a lunch at the casino, courtesy of Trump, returning to New York later that day. Res recalled, “We may not have gotten much business done, but it sure as hell was memorable.”
Addressing a running joke by Trump about the incident, Res revealed it was actually Trump who appeared notably frightened during the ordeal.
“He was white as snow,” Holden interspersed. “And he was scared shitless.”
The Trump campaign, when approached for remarks, simply pointed to a section in a New York Times piece about the episode.
"[Trump] has also told the helicopter story before, in his 2023 book, 'Letters to Trump,' in which he published letters to him from a number of people, including Mr. Brown. In the book, Mr. Trump wrote, 'We actually had an emergency landing in a helicopter together. It was a little scary for both of us, but thankfully we made it.'"
Reflecting on past projects like the Ambassador Hotel, Res and Holden shared memories over a call.
“That’s the story, OK,” Res affirmed. “No Willie Brown.”
Connecting with Brown also, Holden clarified, “I said, ‘Willie, were you almost in a helicopter crash with Trump also?’ He said ‘No.’ I said, ‘I was the one, Willie.’”
Concluding the interview, Holden expressed his concerns over the misinformation. “He either mixed it up,” Holden stated. “Or, he made it up. This was just too big to overlook. This is a big one. Conflating Willie Brown and me? The press is searching for the real story and they didn’t get it. You did.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
This individual was Nate Holden, an ex-city councilmember and state senator from Los Angeles, who vividly recalled the life-threatening incident during an exclusive interview on a late Friday. Holden and others believe the event occurred around 1990.
“Willie is the short Black guy living in San Francisco,” Holden said. “I’m a tall Black guy living in Los Angeles.”
“I guess we all look alike,” Holden told POLITICO, releasing a loud laugh.
Now 95, Holden was engaged with Trump and his associates during the '90s when the prominent New York developer was attempting to develop the site of the historic Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Holden, who represented the district back then, was a supporter of this project.
Holden was prompted to speak out after watching Trump’s press conference on a Thursday, where Trump asserted that Brown was the one on the hair-raising helicopter flight.
Holden recounts first meeting Trump at Trump Tower before heading to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to tour Trump's new Taj Mahal casino. In the lobby of Trump Tower, amidst greetings of “senator” from several individuals around, Holden felt that the host, Trump, seemed slighted.
“He said, ‘You know I own this building but nobody seems to know who I am,’” Holden recollected Trump complain.
Concern filled Holden about the helicopter journey due to a tragic crash in 1989 near Forked River, New Jersey, that claimed the lives of five individuals, including three executives from Trump's casinos.
Yet, according to Holden, Trump was reassuring, praising the capabilities of their two pilots and encouraging him to “look at the sky” and appreciate its beauty.
Also present were Trump’s late brother, Robert, the lawyer Harvey Freedman, and Barbara Res, Trump’s former executive vice president of construction and development. Res told POLITICO that she clearly remembered the incident, which she detailed in her book, “All Alone on the 68th Floor.”
Res affirmed that the individual onboard was certainly Nate Holden, silencing rumors about Willie Brown’s involvement. She depicted a tense moment during the flight, observing the co-pilot act urgently to address mechanical issues.
“Very shortly thereafter the pilot let us know he had lost some instruments and we would need to make an emergency landing,” she documented. “By now, the helicopter was shaking like crazy.”
After managing a turbulent landing in New Jersey, Holden and Res were able to enjoy a lunch at the casino, courtesy of Trump, returning to New York later that day. Res recalled, “We may not have gotten much business done, but it sure as hell was memorable.”
Addressing a running joke by Trump about the incident, Res revealed it was actually Trump who appeared notably frightened during the ordeal.
“He was white as snow,” Holden interspersed. “And he was scared shitless.”
The Trump campaign, when approached for remarks, simply pointed to a section in a New York Times piece about the episode.
"[Trump] has also told the helicopter story before, in his 2023 book, 'Letters to Trump,' in which he published letters to him from a number of people, including Mr. Brown. In the book, Mr. Trump wrote, 'We actually had an emergency landing in a helicopter together. It was a little scary for both of us, but thankfully we made it.'"
Reflecting on past projects like the Ambassador Hotel, Res and Holden shared memories over a call.
“That’s the story, OK,” Res affirmed. “No Willie Brown.”
Connecting with Brown also, Holden clarified, “I said, ‘Willie, were you almost in a helicopter crash with Trump also?’ He said ‘No.’ I said, ‘I was the one, Willie.’”
Concluding the interview, Holden expressed his concerns over the misinformation. “He either mixed it up,” Holden stated. “Or, he made it up. This was just too big to overlook. This is a big one. Conflating Willie Brown and me? The press is searching for the real story and they didn’t get it. You did.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
