On 9/11 Anniversary, Sen. Wendy Rogers Revives Controversial Trump Claim on Tower Bombings

Flagstaff Republican Senator Wendy Rogers recently shared a post on social media that revisited conspiracy theories linked to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, coinciding with the 23rd anniversary of the tragic event.

Rogers, recognized for her controversial far-right positions, reshared content from a user on X, previously known as Twitter. The original post perpetuated unfounded claims about bombs being planted in the World Trade Center and included antisemitic theories regarding the attacks. This user is also known for promoting various conspiracy theories, including anti-vaccine rhetoric.

In the shared video clip, former President Donald Trump discussed the attacks mere hours after the Twin Towers collapsed, suggesting that the planes were not the sole cause. “I think there was just a plane with more than just fuel,” he said, while referencing the durability of the steel in the buildings. These claims echo long-debunked theories suggesting the towers could not have fallen without additional explosions.

Additionally, the post hinted at a conspiracy theory involving Larry Silverstein, who had recently acquired the World Trade Center. Conspiracists allege that Silverstein, labeled a “Jewish owner,” had foreknowledge of the attacks, allowing him to profit from his insurance policy. Such theories are rooted in age-old antisemitic stereotypes regarding greed. Notably, Silverstein played an essential role in the subsequent reconstruction of the World Trade Center.

The content Rogers amplified also cited an unfounded claim about former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stating $2.3 trillion had gone missing from the Pentagon’s budget a day before the attacks. This figure had been highlighted prior to 9/11, and while Rumsfeld did address the missing funds in a speech, it was not a new topic.

In early 2000, an audit revealed that the defense budget lacked supporting documentation for the stated missing funds. Critics argue that this context has often been overlooked by conspiracy theorists. Following Rogers’ post, numerous comments echoed other conspiracy theories related to the attacks.

This incident marks the second consecutive year that an Arizona Senate Republican has amplified conspiratorial narratives surrounding 9/11. Last year, Senator Justine Wadsack shared a fictitious transcript from United Flight 93 and interacted with posts suggesting the event was orchestrated as a “false flag” operation.

Requests for comment from Rogers, Senate President Warren Petersen, and Arizona GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda went unanswered. Historically, the Arizona Senate has seen similar patterns of conspiracy theory promotion; a previous senator, Karen Johnson, advocated for a reinvestigation of the attacks and distributed DVDs promoting related conspiracy theories to her colleagues.