On Thursday, former President Donald Trump revealed that he and Vice President Kamala Harris’s ex-boyfriend, Willie Brown, came dangerously close to a disastrous helicopter incident. During his press conference at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, the former president revealed the story—his first significant public appearance since the Democratic ticket was confirmed.
“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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Harris and Brown, two influential figures in California politics, have a history dating back to the mid-1990s. Brown has been a major player in the political scene of the state for many years. She was the Mayor of San Francisco from 1996 to 2004 and held important positions as Speaker of the California State Assembly in the past.
Shortly after they began dating, Harris was assigned to two well-paying seats on the California state boards, which brought attention to their relationship and made it politically significant. Brown played a significant role in these appointments; at the time, he held a significant amount of political influence in California. Even though their relationship was short-lived, Harris’s early political career benefited from Brown’s support. In 2003, Harris—who was then employed for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office—was elected to the position of district attorney.
Prior to her election as California’s Attorney General in 2010, Harris held the position of District Attorney in San Francisco for two terms. Following her election to the US Senate in 2016, Harris’s career took off when Joe Biden selected her to be his running partner in the 2020 presidential contest. This choice ultimately led to Harris’s present position as Vice President.
Trump praised his own choice for vice president, JD Vance, during his news conference on Thursday, but he was unreserved in his criticism of Harris and her campaign mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. Trump’s negative tone extended to Harris and Brown’s previous relationship, implying a convoluted background.
During the news conference, Trump also announced his participation in the three presidential debates that will take place in September, which will be held by Fox, NBC, and ABC. A vice presidential debate will be hosted by CBS. Trump confirmed his acceptance to the debate schedule, and now he is getting ready for a head-to-head discussion with Kamala Harris on ABC on September 10.
