By Staff/Follow Todd Starnes on Twitter!
Twitter didn’t exist 16 years ago, but now former White House Press Secretary under President George W. Bush now tweets out each year a timeline of the events of September 11, 2001 as he remembers them.
“Standing next to the president and the vice-president in his cabinet, and hearing the president say ‘We’re at war.’… That was the moment for me,” Fleischer told The Todd Starnes Show on Monday.
Here are those tweets:
Good morning. As I do every year on this day, I will do my best to recall what I saw on September 11, 2001.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
There was no Twitter then. But I will try to re-live history on twitter so others can know details of what happened behind the scenes.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
I woke up probably around or 6:00 (late for the WH, but we weren’t scheduled to board the motorcade until after 8:00.)
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
It was a gorgeous day at the Colony Resort in Sarasota, FL. POTUS was scheduled to do an event at a local school to talk about education.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
It was a gorgeous, clear day up and down the east coast. It couldn’t have been more beautiful, especially in NYC.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
President Bush started his day with a run. He spotted a reporter, Dick Keil of Bloomberg, who was also a runner, and asked him to join him.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
He then had his CIA briefing. The 2nd Intifata was underway so much of it was focused on the violence in the West Bank in Israel.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
American Airlines flight 11 with 92 people aboard departs Logan Airport for Los Angeles.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
8:14am United Airlines flight 175 with 65 people on board takes off from Boston, also heading for LA.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here is the cover of POTUS’s schedule. It’s called a “mini”. It’s a detailed, minute by minute logistical guide. It fits in your pocket. pic.twitter.com/tF2Vl0axBU
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
8:20 American Airlines flight 77 takes off from Dulles outside D.C. with 64 people aboard for LA.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
8:30 Motorcade departs our hotel for the Emma E. Booker Elementary School. Here are the vehicle assignments. My car was called “Support” pic.twitter.com/UF7uenBL8f
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
8:41 United Airlines flight 93 with 44 people on board takes off from Newark for San Francisco.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
8:46 Hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 is flown in2 the World Trade Center, killing everyone on board. Hundreds were killed in the tower
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
We pulled into the school and I got a page telling me a plane hit the WTC. Pagers were the fastest forms of instant messaging back then.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
The page was sent to me by Brian Bravo, a young aide in the WH press office. He heard about it bcause a friend in NYC called him.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
There was no more info than that. We didn’t know if it was an accident or something else.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
After POTUS shook hands with school officials, Karl Rove told him what happened. POTUS immediately went into a “holding room” to get info.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Everywhere POTUS goes, the military sets up a secure room w classified phones. I had never seen it used until that morning.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Pres Bush spoke with Condi Rice. No one knew yet if it was terrorism.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:03 United Airlines Flight 175 is flown into the South Tower, killing all on board and hundreds more in the tower.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here is a picture of me getting a second page about the second plane. That’s how I learned about it. Advance man Mike Heath is next to me. pic.twitter.com/4JR1aHzPJo
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Chief of Staff Andy Card entered the room, interrupted POTUS, and whispered “A second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush remained in room 4 a few minutes, “listening” to the kids read, collecting his thoughts. The teacher&kids had no idea what was going on
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Michael Moore later made a move sharply critical of Pres. Bush for remaining in the room.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
The President went back into the hold to work the phones, speaking with VP, FBI Director, Condi and others. pic.twitter.com/F9Yi36L131
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
A TV was brought into the room and POTUS watched replays of the planes hitting the towers. pic.twitter.com/2fmA2wB9to
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here is more of the scene in the hold. pic.twitter.com/5PAsogArwo
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:31 Bush spoke briefly to a gathering of teachers &kids in the gym. The Secret Service wanted to leave. Bush wanted to address the nation.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush called it “an apparent terrorist attack.” The press later faulted his remarks, saying he appeared unsteady. https://t.co/t0JdHRst7A
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:33 Reagan airport tower calls Secret Service (USSS) 2say “an aircraft is coming at you and not talking to us.” That was 1st threat to WH.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Seconds later, tower told USSS the aircraft was turning south, away from the WH.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:35 Bush departs Emma Booker school for Air Force One. USSS asked for triple blockades at intersections. Not just motorcycle units.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
There are always 2 identical limos in the motorcade. USSS played a shell game moving them around so it would be hard 2know which held POTUS.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:36 Over DC, American flight 77 turned west and began to circle back. USSS evacuates VP Cheney to the bunker under the WH.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:37 American flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, killing 59 aboard the plane and 125 inside the Pentagon.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
The President was told about the attack on the Pentagon in his limo enroute to Air Force One. I heard about it when I boarded the plane.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Even though the press had already been cleared by USSS, they and staff had all belongings searched before being let onto AFOne. pic.twitter.com/ajOYxYv3VR
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Sonya Ross of Associated Press later told Politico that bomb sniffing dogs “were drooling all [over] the luggage.” No one objected.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:42 The Federal Aviation Administration for the first time in history grounded all flights into, out of, and over the U.S.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:45 The Capitol and the WH were evacuated. WH aides were told by USSS to run, not walk. Women were told to take off their heels and run.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:45 I boarded AFOne with POTUS and spent much of the day in his cabin. I took verbatim notes of what he did and what he said. pic.twitter.com/XkYMm6PiQA
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
POTUS told his lead USSS agent, Eddie Marinzel, to be sure to get his wife and daughters protected. He didn’t have time to call them yet.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
He called VP: “Sounds like we have a minor war going on here. I heard about the Pentagon.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Cheney told Bush there were still 3 aircraft missing. We knew 3 hit targets and thought there were still more attacks coming.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
9:59 The South Tower collapses.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
1/2 Bush turns to the staff with him and says, “We’re at war. That’s what we’re paid for boys. We’re going to take care of this.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
2/2 “When we find out who did this, they’re not going to like me as President. Somebody’s going to pay.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
We took off at an unusually sharp incline and way faster than normal. AFOne Pilot Mark Tillman later told me there was a report of a sniper.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
It turns out the “sniper” was one of ours. Part of the USSS counter-sniper team. It was one of many false alarms that day.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
We didn’t have satellite TV on AFOne. When we flew over major cities, the TV reception came in depending on strength of a broadcast tower.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
As the reception would come and go, we could watch TV to get news of what was happening. It was frustrating. AFOne now has satellite TV.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
10:28 The North Tower collapsed.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Our plan was to return to DC, but the VP/USSS thought that was a terrible idea. We headed up to 45,000 feet and flew in a random pattern.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
10:32 POTUS was told of a call that came into the WH switchboard saying, “Angel is next”. Angel was the code word for AFOne.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
By then, we had heard media report of a car bomb at State Dept/the mall was on fire. We were also told there were six hijacked aircraft.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
When flight 93 crashed in PA, the first report we got is it crashed “near Camp David.” It was about 100 miles away.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush calls Cheney: “We’re at war Dick and we’re going to find out who did this and we’re going to kick their ass.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here’s the scene in Bush’s cabin as the security people are trying to decide where to fly. pic.twitter.com/0Rd7sZg6Ik
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
10:42 Bush is told his daughters are in “hardened location.” Bush: “How did they take it?” USSS: “They wanted to stay in their apartments.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Amazingly, as Bush would talk on the phone, the phone connection frequently was dropped. That’s not supposed to happen on that plane. pic.twitter.com/7OdMLKc86m
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Even military communications were too jammed that day. It led to a major technological overhaul of AFOne.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Comms were dropping, AFOne had been threatened and nation was under attack. USSS and Col. Tillman were worried about an inside job.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Col. Tillman ordered Will Chandler of Air Force Security, to stand watch at base of steps leading up to the cockpit. No one was allowed up.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Colonel Tillman later told Politico that was something that had never been done before.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Worst case scenario was this was an attempt to decapitate the government, and that an insider might be involved.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
The military drills for how to survive a decapitation attack. They implemented several response measures that day, esp to keep POTUS safe.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
USSS later told Politico, “[Bush] fought with us tooth and nail all day to go back to Washington. We basically refused to take him back.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here’s more of the scene on the plane. The first two are in POTUS’s office. The third is his bedroom off the office. It’s a nice plane. pic.twitter.com/fA5MmX961Q
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
The decision was made to not go back to DC, but instead land at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
We needed to refuel, unload non-necessary passengers, pick up more food and POTUS wanted to address the nation.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Barksdale was in the middle of a major military exercise and was on high alert. No one was supposed to know we were going there.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
As we approached, we were escorted by F-16 fighter aircraft. (I don’t know if this photo was enroute Barksdale or another time on that day.) pic.twitter.com/dSp1c8Lpmu
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Before we landed, the WH medical office distributed Cipro to the staff, just in case we had been hit by a biological attack. pic.twitter.com/l9miVPDtnb
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
As we were about to land, I went to the press cabin to brief. I told reporters they could not divulge our location.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
As i was talking, the TVs showed local coverage of the plane landing at Barksdale. Local media was there to cover the drill underway.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
So much for keeping our destination a secret. We landed around 12:05pm eastern.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here’s the scene on the runway at Barksdale. We never have security like this. pic.twitter.com/e0StWHSpf1
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
12:25 Bush is in the Base Commander’s (Lt. Gen. Tom Keck) office working the phones.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Calls VP: “I think it’s important 4the people to see the government is functioning because the TV shows our nation has been blasted&bombed.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
“Government is not chaotic. It’s functioning smoothly. We’re going to get the bastards.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush then said to Cheney: “It’s the new war. It’s the faceless coward that attacks.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Meanwhile, Peter Jennings on ABC and Brian Williams on MSNBC criticized Bush for not returning to DC.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Jennings: “I don’t mean to say this in melodramatic terms, but where is the President? Pretty soon the country needs to know where he is.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
“The country looks to the President on occasions like this 2b reassuring to the nation. Some Presidents do it well, some Presidents don’t.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush continued his calls from the Base Commander’s office. He turned to staff and said:
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
“I can’t wait to find out who did this. It’s going to take a while and we’re not going to have a little slap on the wrist crap.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush called NY Sen. Chuck Schumer: “It’s a sad day for America. Condolences go to everyone in NY. We’ll come together. God Bless.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush called Def. Sec Donald Rumsfeld and said, referring to the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs:
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush called Def. Sec Donald Rumsfeld and said, referring to the incoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs:
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
“It’s a day of national tragedy and we’ll clean up the mess and then the ball will be in your court and Dick Myer’s court to respond.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
As Bush was leaving to address the nation, Gen. Keck told him intell just came in about a high speed object heading toward Bush’s ranch.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Bush had a staffer call to evacuate the ranch. Turned out to be a crop-duster. Just another of many false alarms that day.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Here is Bush’s second address to the nation that day. From Barksdale. (two minutes long) https://t.co/mrQbzNgOLF
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Before boarding AFOne, Andy Card said non-essential personnel had to stay. That meant all the Congressmen and 1/2 the WH staff couldn’t go.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Andy said it also meant that we needed to shrink the 13-member WH press pool to 3 people.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
I asked Andy to make it 5 reporters and he said fine, just do it.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
I asked Andy to make it 5 reporters and he said fine, just do it.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
I told my aide Gordon Johndroe to invite the reporters from the biggest outlets. That meant @AnnCompton, @sonyagal, @dougmillsnyt and 2 more
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
The reporters left behind were furious. One screamed, “Who’s in charge?! The military or the civilians!?”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
I felt bad for the press. It was the most newsworthy day of their lives and they were being left behind.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
But we didn’t have our usual infrastructure or security. We didn’t have time for extra people.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
Around 1:15, we were wheels up for Offut Airforce Base in NE, where Bush could convene a meeting of the Nat. Security Council on secure TV.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
I wasn’t allowed to tell the press where we were going.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
1:25 on AFOne. Bush: “I want to go back home ASAP. I don’t want whoever this is holding me outside of Washington.”
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017
USSS: “Our people are saying it’s too unsteady still.”
Bush: “Cheney says not safe yet as well.”
Andy:”Right thing is 2let the dust settle.”— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) September 11, 2017