Trump ‘99 percent certain’ he could have spoken at 9/11 event in New York City ‘if I wanted to’

President Trump said Friday he’s “99 percent” sure he could have given a speech at the New York City 9/11 ceremony if he wanted to, while pushing back on reports that said he didn’t attend because he wouldn’t be able to give a speech.

“It’s just not true. I didn’t demand to speak,” he told Sid Rosenberg on 77 WABC on Friday.

“I’m sure if I wanted to speak, they would have let me,” he said, adding that he’s president and he knows “the guys down there.”

The New York Times reported last month that the president’s team told the organizers of New York City’s ceremony that he would like to speak. The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has banned speeches from politicians at the ceremony since 2012.

Trump joked that “I speak enough, the last thing I want to do is speak.”

“I don’t need it for any reason,” he said.

He singled out The New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, who was one of the reporters behind the report. The president railed against the report in a Truth Social post last month, calling it “Corrupt News.”

“I’ve been to New York many times over the years, and no one ever speaks, it’s a ‘solemn ceremony!’” he wrote.

Trump instead attended and gave remarks at the 9/11 ceremony at the Pentagon, while Vice President Vance attended the New York City memorial service.

Some presidents in the past visited all three sites — New York City; Arlington, Va., for the Pentagon; and Shanksville, Pa., for United Airlines Flight 93 — including former President Biden in 2021 for the 20th anniversary, former President Obama in 2011 for the 10th anniversary and former President George W. Bush on the first and fifth anniversaries.