After a week stuck in court donald trump planned to let loose in front of thousands of fans in North Carolina on Saturday.
But warnings of severe storms meant he had to cancel the rally in Wilmington at the last minute, sending thousands of disappointed supporters home when conditions became too dangerous.
Instead of going on a 90-minute rant against New York prosecutors, election interference, and Joe Biden, Trump delivered a one-minute audio message telling people to leave.
“It’s a danger to all of this,” he said, in a message played over the sound system. “And we want to make sure everyone is safe
“And that’s why they’ve asked us to ask people to leave the area and seek shelter.”
Thousands of people had gathered to hear Donald Trump at his first rally since the “hush money” trial began in New York on Monday. But he postponed with minutes to spare
Disappointed supporters returned home, but said safety came first.
He was scheduled to take the stage at 7 p.m. for his first rally since the secret money trial began in New York.
But with the skies darkening by the minute and the outdoor rally site dotted with cranes that would act as lightning magnets, the decision was made to cancel.
Lightning could be seen in the distance.
Trump said he was “devastated” but would return soon.
“We’ll have to do a rain test,” he said as people began running for the exits. “I’m so sad… They say the weather is getting really bad.”
The weather couldn’t be worse. She spent the week in Courtroom 1530 of Manhattan Criminal Court. like a caged beastcapable only of venting his fury in brief bursts at the injustice of it all.
On Saturday, he was ready to let loose in front of an adoring crowd.
The demonstration was intended to be the first since the start of his criminal “hush money” trial in New York.
And the location was also a reminder of how the 2024 election will play out in the southern swing state of North Carolina. Trump won the state by just 1.5 points over President Joe Biden last time.
The scene above when fans braved temperatures of up to 80 degrees.
But with less than half an hour left before kickoff, Trump announced that he would postpone
Trump held a fundraising event in Charlotte that same day, where his aides said he raised $6 million. He said he was “devastated” to have had to cancel
Fans arrived at the airport apron at 3 p.m. hoping to find the best spot to see the former president before the event was cancelled.
Vendors selling hats, flags and T-shirts lined the parking lot outside the rally site.
Trump took to Truth Social in the hours before the rally to rebuke prosecutors and the judge.
Before the rally was stopped, Trump was preparing for his second visit in the last two months.
Supporters said they were bitterly disappointed when they left, but that safety had to come first.
“I’ll be on the next one,” said Cletus Leppo, who worked at the Post Office before retiring.
For now, his main focus is the case unfolding in Judge Juan Merchán’s court, where he is accused of manipulating business documents to hide money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign.
Trump denies all charges.
But he is also under scrutiny for public statements and social media posts attacking people connected to the case.
A gag order from March prevents him from making public statements about witnesses and their possible statements, as well as about prosecutors, court staff and their families if his words are intended to interfere with the case.
(District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the judge are not covered by the order.
Prosecutors allege he has already violated the order several times.
By the end of the week, a 12-member jury had been selected.
but full
Most people in Wilmington said they had barely been paying attention. The solution was already solved, they said.
“I haven’t bothered to look at it,” said George Kopek, 82, who now lives next to a golf course after a life in sales, and whose nose has sun scars to prove it. “I have a lot of golf to play.”
Former US President Donald Trump became the first former president to go on trial when a jury was sworn in Monday afternoon in Manhattan Criminal Court.
He spent four days a week in the courtroom, able to address the media only during breaks.
The full jury is already formed in the Trump trial. Twelve Manhattan residents will decide whether he is guilty or innocent and six alternates will serve as backup.
The trial of a former president is unprecedented in American history. The fact that Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee and is ahead of Biden in national polls makes it even more extraordinary.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that he is the victim of a political witch hunt and election interference.
On Saturday, he continued his argument with a Truth Social post hours before his appearance, asking why the case had not been prosecuted eight years ago.
“Instead, they waited and introduced him right in the middle of my presidential campaign against the worst and most incompetent president of all time, corrupt Joe Biden,” he said.
“It is being presided over by possibly the most confrontational judge in judicial history, who must be immediately removed from this deception.”