Trump’s immigration plan has included a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. that has since been modified to include immigrants from so-called “terror states.” | AP Photo Trump: Muslim ban would have stopped 9/11

Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that he could have prevented the terrorist attacks on 9/11, stopping the World Trade Center from ever coming down thanks to his immigration policies.

During a campaign stop in Daytona Beach, Florida, the Republican presidential nominee invoked a moment in which he mocked a disabled reporter. That reporter, Serge Kovaleski of The New York Times, co-wrote a Sept. 18, 2001, story for The Washington Post noting that “law enforcement authorities detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate-style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river.”


In November 2015, Kovaleski disputed Trump's characterization of his story, saying he could not recall “thousands, or even hundreds, of people celebrating.” In response, Trump did an impression of Kovaleski at a Nov. 25 campaign event.

“Now the poor guy — you ought to see the guy: ‘Uhh I don’t know what I said. I don’t remember.’ He’s going, ‘I don’t remember. Maybe that’s what I said.’” Trump said, waving his arms as he impersonated Kovaleski, who suffers from arthrogryposis, a congenital condition that restricts his mobility.

Trump has since argued that he was simply portraying a man who was “groveling,” not mocking anyone in particular. He said Wednesday that he’s a “tremendous fan” of people with disabilities.

“I spend millions of dollars on ramps, on all sorts of things in buildings,” he said. “In some cases — many cases — things I don’t have to do, but I am a tremendous fan.” (The Americans with Disabilities Act requires most public buildings, including apartment complexes, to include wheelchair ramps.)

Recalling the incident, Trump told supporters there was story about him “talking about people dancing in the streets or dancing on the rooftops.”

“You remember,” he said at Wednesday's rally. “Now in all fairness, throughout the world they were dancing. But I said in New Jersey they were dancing. You know, I said when the World Trade Center came down. Nice. Real nice.”

Trump also accused Hillary Clinton of running a false ad about the incident. The 60-second spot in question, slamming his impression of Kovaleski, was actually produced by pro-Clinton super PAC Priorities USA Action.

Then he segued into touting the benefits of his immigration policies.

“So here’s the story — by the way, those people that knocked down the World Trade Center most likely under the Trump policy wouldn’t have been here to knock down the World Trade Center, just so you understand,” he continued.

Trump’s immigration plan has included a border wall that Trump says Mexico will pay for and a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. that has since been modified to include immigrants from so-called “terror states.”