A Michigan rally planned for former President Donald Trump took a surprising turn when many supporters left after waiting hours for him to arrive.
On Friday night, at an outdoor airport tarmac event in the cold, attendees grew restless as Trump delayed his arrival for nearly three hours.
The delay was due to Trump taping a long interview with popular podcaster Joe Rogan, an influential figure among younger male voters, who Trump is aiming to win over in the upcoming election.
Once he finally arrived, Trump apologized to the remaining crowd, explaining that the delay was caused by the extended interview in Austin, Texas, which aired the same evening.
The discussion covered familiar topics from Trump’s previous speeches and some new ones, such as the existence of UFOs, adding an unexpected twist to the conversation.
Meanwhile, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris was also in Texas, attending an event with superstar Beyoncé in Houston.
The event spotlighted Texas’ restrictive abortion laws, which have been in effect since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Notably, three justices nominated by Trump played a pivotal role in reversing the landmark ruling.
As 7:30 p.m. Eastern time approached, the original start time for Trump’s Michigan rally, an update appeared on social media platform X from Trump’s spokesperson, revealing that Trump had only just departed Texas.
With his plane still over two hours away, Trump sent a video message from the air, urging supporters to stick around, reassuring them with, “We’re going to have a good time tonight.”
When Trump finally landed in Traverse City, temperatures had fallen to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius).
Supporters who stayed cheered as his plane arrived and he descended from the steps, but many attendees had already left by then.
Those who waited bundled up tightly, some wrapped in blankets, huddling together as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon attempted to entertain the dwindling crowd.
To engage those still present, campaign staff tossed hats to the audience.
Among the loyal attendees were John and Cheryl Sowash, Traverse City residents who arrived at the rally location at 4 p.m. They took the delay in stride, with John commenting, “Things happen.
He spoke to a lot more people talking to Joe Rogan than he did here.” Cheryl added that while the delay was unfortunate, she believed Trump would be disappointed by the lost opportunity, noting, “He’s gonna be disappointed because there were twice as many people here. He missed it.”
The rally ultimately left a mixed impression.
While Trump’s late arrival kept some dedicated supporters hopeful, it also highlighted challenges in balancing schedules and engaging large audiences, especially in key states where the battle for votes remains intense.
The night underscored the need for Trump’s team to carefully navigate events and manage expectations as the race heats up.
