10 9/11 Conspiracies that Still Persist Today

Fact-Check Rating: False

Europhysics News published a feature in its July-August 2016 issue arguing that the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11 was better explained by controlled demolition rather than burning jet fuel. However, the article was speculative and not a peer-reviewed scientific study.

Despite this, it was misrepresented by some websites as a scientific article from the European Scientific Journal. The authors, who have promoted 9/11 conspiracy theories, targeted the official conclusion of the National Institute of Standards and Technology investigation and relied on discredited claims. NIST reaffirmed its study, while EPN defended its publication as a means to stimulate discussion and announced plans to publish a counterarticle.

Fact-Check Rating: Mixture of True and False

Several contemporary legends have circulated regarding people supposedly benefiting from prior knowledge of the 9/11 attacks. These stories involve claims of people calling in sick or making investments that appeared to be timed with the attacks. One such tale centers on Larry Silverstein, who acquired the lease for the World Trade Center just months before 9/11 and obtained insurance for these types of events.

While he did go to court after the attacks to seek double the insurance payout, suggesting two separate events, there is no evidence to support the idea that he had foreknowledge of the attacks. The fact is, getting this type of insurance wasn't really unusual given the time. Silverstein was later awarded payment, but it was less than he initially sought. 

Fact-Check Rating: False

A supposed Nostradamus prophecy circulated online following the tragedy, stating that he'd predicted the tragedy. However, it was later revealed to be a fabrication, crafted by a student to illustrate the ease of creating vague prophecies. How ironic. Despite the debunking, people continue to search for mystic explanations, showing the deep-seated human need for certainty in uncertain times.

Fact-Check Rating: False

In 2001, a man named Mohammed Atta was identified as the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. Newspapers mistakenly linked him to an incident in 1986 that was similar in nature. However, it was later clarified that they were different people with the same name. The misinformation persisted, leading to questions about why the error occurred. Claims of Atta's release under the Oslo Agreement were debunked, and it was later paired with another false claim regarding Oliver North and Osama bin Laden.

Fact-Check Rating: False

French author Thierry Meyssan popularized the theory that the Pentagon was not damaged by planes but rather was staged by the U.S. government. However, Meyssan failed to provide a plausible explanation for the extensive damage caused. This conspiracy theory gained traction in France and the U.S. despite lacking evidence.

The damage to the Pentagon was significant, as the plane penetrated reinforced walls and caused destruction across several rings of the building. Eyewitnesses and photographs refute any claims made by Meyssan.

Fact-Check Rating: Unproven

A meme claimed that Donald Trump aided in search-and-rescue efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11, but it used an image from a different event. Trump vaguely mentioned his involvement in interviews, but specific details to verify his claims were lacking. Officials from the New York City Fire Department and a 9/11 first responder stated they didn't witness Trump's alleged efforts. Additionally, Trump's organization was too small at the time to provide the number of workers he mentioned. 

Fact-Check Rating: Mixture of True and False

The "building surfer" rumor emerged as a tale of hope and miraculous survival amidst the tragedy of 9/11. It depicted a man riding parts of the collapsing World Trade Towers to safety, symbolizing the resilience of humanity in the face of disaster. Despite lacking credible evidence, the rumor persisted, often attributing the feat to a firefighter. It's true that people survived after falling from the building, but they certainly didn't surf down. 

Fact-Check Rating: False

In the aftermath of Sept. 11, concerns about further incidents were heightened. In February 2003, numerous security alerts about missing UPS uniforms circulated, sparking fears. Speculation arose from high bids for UPS uniforms on eBay, leading some to believe criminals were acquiring them for nefarious purposes. However, these fears were unfounded, as investigations revealed no evidence of missing uniforms or suspicious activities. 

Fact-Check Rating: False

The story circulating on the internet about a blind man named James Crane and his golden retriever Daisy rescuing almost a thousand people from the collapsing World Trade Center towers on 9/11 is entirely fictional. Despite claims of authenticity and references to news sources, such as The New York Times, no such incident occurred. While there were real instances of guide dogs helping people escape the towers, none of them involved rescuing multiple people. 

Fact-Check Rating: False

After the Sept. 11 attacks, various groups spread false propaganda suggesting that Israel had advance knowledge of the attacks and failed to warn Americans. They claimed that 4,000 Israelis who worked in the World Trade Center towers did not show up for work on that day, insinuating Israeli involvement.

However, this rumor was based on misinterpretations of news reports. The truth was that Jews and Israelis were among the victims of the attacks, with roughly 10% to 15% of the casualties being Jewish, consistent with their proportion in the New York population. 

Fact-Check Rating: False

On January 24, 2024, users on X (formerly Twitter) shared an out-of-context video clip from a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump, falsely claiming he said that the 9/11 attacks were an "inside job" orchestrated by the U.S. government. The original speech, delivered on January 22, 2024, in New Hampshire, mentioned the absence of major attacks during his presidency but did not suggest U.S. involvement in 9/11. Trump's complete remarks clarified that he was referring to the absence of large-scale attacks during his tenure.

Fact-Check Rating: False

On September 11, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden delivered a commemorative speech marking the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. In his speech, Biden claimed to have visited ground zero in New York City the day after the attacks. However, numerous social media users pointed out that there is no evidence to support this claim.

The Congressional Record and contemporaneous news coverage confirm that Biden was in Washington, D.C., on September 12, 2001, not in New York City. He was actively involved in Senate proceedings and played a significant role in condemning the attacks. Biden did not visit ground zero until September 20, 2001, with a delegation of senators.

Fact-Check Rating: False

The rumor that "The Simpsons" predicted the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center circulated on social media, fueled by a screenshot from an episode showing a magazine cover with the numbers "9" and "11" next to an illustration of the Twin Towers. However, this alleged prediction was merely an optical coincidence, not a prophecy. Al Jean, one of the show's original writers, clarified that while the show often makes educated guesses based on current events, the supposed "9/11 reference" was coincidental. 

Fact-Check Rating: False

In March 2019, an article by "America's Last Line of Defense" falsely claimed that U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar's cousin was one of the terrorists who hijacked Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. The article accused Democrats of hypocrisy for not acknowledging Omar's alleged connection to the attack. However, the claim was entirely fabricated, as none of the Flight 93 hijackers were named "Alqadib Aleimlaq" or had any relation to Omar. The article was swiftly deleted.

Fact-Check Rating: False

On July 13, 2017, the YourNewsWire website published a fictitious article claiming that a dying CIA agent named Malcom Howard confessed to orchestrating the controlled demolition of World Trade Center Building 7 on 9/11. However, the story lacked credibility and critical details, such as where the confession took place. YourNewsWire has a history of publishing fake news stories, as well. The conspiracy theory about WTC7 being brought down through controlled demolition has been debunked, with evidence showing that fire alone caused the building's collapse.

Fact-Check Rating: Mostly False

The claim here is that Donald Trump improperly received $150,000 in federal aid earmarked for small businesses damaged by the 9/11 attacks, despite the fact his business was neither small nor damaged in the attacks. The true part is that a business owned or operated by Donald Trump was entitled to $150,000 in federal aid to businesses affected by the 9/11 attacks. However, the grant money wasn't specifically earmarked for small businesses (and it wasn't improperly accessed by Trump).

Trump's businesses did not lie or mislead federal agencies to qualify under the programs, which didn't require businesses to have sustained physical damage to be entitled to the funds. Trump's business also wasn't the only large firm to qualify under the criteria used by the agency tasked with distributing the grant money.

Fact-Check Rating: True

In the aftermath of 9/11, employees of Midwood Ambulance Service sought water from a nearby Starbucks to aid victims. However, Starbucks charged them $130 for three cases of bottled water. After inquiries and emails to Starbucks were ignored, the incident gained attention online, prompting Starbucks to issue a belated apology and refund. Despite later attempts to rectify the situation, including an apology from Starbucks' president, the company's initial handling of the matter raised concerns about its customer relations and management. While Starbucks eventually refunded the money and made efforts to support relief efforts, questions remained about its responsiveness without public scrutiny.

Fact-Check Rating: False

On September 11, 2001, four planes were hijacked. Before the attacks, unusual trading activity involving American and United Airlines stocks was noted, raising suspicions of insider trading. However, investigations by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks revealed that the trading had innocent explanations and no connection to the impending attacks.

Fact-Check Rating: False

The story of 40 Marines rescuing children from a daycare near the Pentagon on 9/11 is a fictional account that circulated online. While it's an inspiring tale, there's no evidence to support its authenticity. Instead, daycare staff and others managed the evacuation of children from the area, with assistance from park rangers, who later provided protection and transportation. One poignant real-life story involved Col. William Stoppel, a parent who helped evacuate children while unaware that his own office had been hit in the attack.

Fact-Check Rating: True

Steve Buscemi, known for his roles in films like "Fargo" and "Boardwalk Empire," started his career as a firefighter with the FDNY's Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan's Little Italy from 1980 to 1984. Despite pursuing acting, he continued firefighting and even returned to help after the 9/11 attacks, working long shifts alongside other firefighters to sift through the rubble of the World Trade Center without seeking publicity. He considered it a privilege to assist his former colleagues during that difficult time.