The president seems to abhor anyone taking the spotlight from himself. At a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden on Monday where he signed a bill granting permanent compensation to 9/11 first-responders, he included himself among the heroes.
"I was down there also, but I'm not considering myself a first-responder," Trump told the 9/11 first-responders, many of whom lost colleagues in the attacks. "But I was down there. I spent a lot of time down there with you."
However, like most things Trump says, it wasn't true.
"I spent many months there myself, and I never witnessed him," Richard Alles, a retired deputy chief with the New York Fire Department, told The New York Times. "He was a private citizen at the time. I don't know what kind of role he could have possibly played."
Video footage shows that shortly after the World Trade Center buildings fell, he bragged that he now owned the tallest building in downtown Manhattan. Which wasn't true.
"40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan and it was actually, before the World Trade Center, was the tallest — and then, when they built the World Trade Center, it became known as the second-tallest," Trump said. "And now it's the tallest."
Trump's claim that he was among the first-responders has drawn criticism and spawned tons of memes under #LostTrumpHistory. People on social media are mocking his penchant for lying and stealing others' thunder by Photoshopping him into historical events such as the moon landing, Washington crossing the Delaware, and The Last Supper.
Here are some of the best responses to #LostTrumpHistory.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.