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Was Rep. Ilhan Omar's Cousin a 9/11 Hijacker?

Conspiracy theories about the tragedy have continued to circulate online, despite fact-checkers' efforts to debunk them.

by Rae Deng, March 2, 2019


An American flag standing on a stone 9/11 memorial on a clear day in New York City.

Image courtesy of Gary Hershorn, accessed via Getty Images


The 9/11 terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people, left an indelible mark on American history — so it is perhaps unsurprising that speculation and conspiracy theories surrounding them have endured for decades.

In the 25 years since the attacks, Snopes has debunked numerous rumors and examined why they persist online. For example, we disproved a false claim that the owner of the World Trade Center's Building 7 "admitted" it was destroyed in a controlled demolition rather than the terrorist attack. At the same time, we've confirmed the authenticity of some media shared online, including a photo of someone watching the Twin Towers burn.

Below are 21 claims about 9/11 that we've investigated over the years. 


By Rae Deng

Rae Deng specializes in government/politics and is based in Tacoma, Wash.

No Evidence Epstein Owned Painting of G.W. Bush Playing with Paper Planes, Collapsed Towers

Jan. 8, 2024

The painting, which is real, was created by Petrina Ryan-Kleid as a graduate art student in New ...

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Biden spoke on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Biden Says He Stood at Ground Zero the Day After 9/11

Sept. 12, 2023

According to all available evidence, then-U.S. Sen. Joe Biden was in Washington, D.C., on Sept. ...

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Did a European Scientific Journal Conclude 9/11 Was a Controlled Demolition?

Oct. 9, 2016

Viral news stories misattributed an article written by "9/11 Truth" advocates as one published i ...

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Viral Pic Captures Trump's 'Heroic Efforts' on 9/11?

Sept. 11, 2023

A picture of Donald Trump in firefighter garb at Ground Zero caused a lot of confusion on social ...

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'The Simpsons' Predicted 9/11 Attack on World Trade Center?

Sept. 11, 2023

The World Trade Center attack was allegedly predicted in a "Simpsons" episode that aired in 1997.

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Starbucks

Did Starbucks Charge 9/11 Rescue Workers $130 for Water?

Sept. 25, 2001

Did a New York Starbucks charge rescue workers $130 for three cases of water?

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A rumor said that James Cameron was exploring the wreckage of Titanic during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Was James Cameron Exploring the Titanic Wreckage on 9/11?

June 22, 2023

It's not often that two major disasters cross paths in the world of rumors.

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Did a WTC Leaseholder Buy Terrorism Insurance Just Before 9/11?

Sept. 14, 2016

A longstanding urban legend holds that World Trade Center leaseholder Larry Silverstein "fortuit ...

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This picture was captioned as cars that never left the Giants Stadium commuter lot after 9/11.

Does Photo Show 9/11 Victims' Cars in NY Giants Commuter Lot?

Dec. 2, 2021

The picture previously appeared on Reddit and TikTok.

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Did 40 Marines Rescue Kids From a Pentagon Daycare Facility on 9/11?

May 26, 2010

American Flight 77 crashed into Pentagon at 9:43 a.m. on that fateful day.

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A rumor claims that the FBI found a 9/11 hijacker's airplane ticket on the morning of September 11 2001 just moments after one of the towers collapsed.

Did FBI Find a 9/11 Hijacker's Plane Ticket Moments After North Tower Collapsed?

Oct. 13, 2021

The story was mentioned on a podcast by investigative journalist Chris Hansen.

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Did the Trump Administration Withhold Money from FDNY 9/11 Health Fund?

Sept. 14, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it harder for a cash-strapped New York City to front the costs of ...

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Does This Video Show US Air Traffic on Sept. 11, 2001?

Sept. 11, 2019

Some 4,000 planes were grounded in the span of a few hours.

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City, Town, Urban

No, the Owner of WTC Building 7 Didn't 'Admit' It Was Demolished After 9/11

Dec. 2, 2021

More than two decades later, conspiracy theories about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack per ...

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Pic Shows Someone Watching Twin Towers During 9/11 Attacks?

Sept. 11, 2024

The photo circulated online in the weeks before the 23rd anniversary of the deadly terrorist att ...

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A false rumor on X claimed that Trump said the 9/11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 were an inside job conducted by the United States.

Did Trump Say 9/11 Was an 'Inside Job'?

Jan. 25, 2024

To learn more, we consulted an unedited video of Trump's full campaign rally speech as delivered ...

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No, Pete Hegseth Didn't Wear Underwear at 9/11 Memorial

Dec. 6, 2024

But he was scantily clad while filming a swim event with Navy SEALS on Fox News in 2020.

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Did Donald Trump Take $150K from the 9/11 Small Business Fund?

May 26, 2016

A 2006 New York Daily News article about Donald Trump's receipt of $150,000 in federal aid post- ...

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Abdul El-Sayed, a man of Middle Eastern descent with a beard and a dark suit, gestures and speaks into a microphone with people surrounding him.

Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed didn't say he believes America deserved 9/11. Here's who did

Aug. 11, 2026

El-Sayed's Republican opponent, Mike Rogers, spread the claim on social media.

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This photo shows a fairly close shot of U.S. President Donald Trump saluting while wearing a dark suit, white shirt, red tie and an American flag pin, with an American flag appearing out of focus in the background.

Did Trump attack 9/11 memorial in NYC because he wasn't allowed to speak at remembrance?

Aug. 31, 2026

A fabricated post claimed Trump said he "ran 110 floors at least 50 times within 30 minutes" sav ...

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Was Rep. Ilhan Omar's Cousin a 9/11 Hijacker?

March 2, 2019

More junk news from puerile minds who consider defamation to be a sidesplitting form of "satire."

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