After former President Donald J. Trump spent much of last week sitting in a New York courtroom, Saturday night marked his return to the campaign trail and the large rallies where he often delivers long, freewheeling speeches. was supposed to be foretold.
Thousands of people gathered on the tarmac at the airport in Wilmington, North Carolina, and Trump's campaign was raising hopes. Two hours before his scheduled speech, the campaign launched a major fundraising campaign with Trump's message: Did they think I would run away and hide? ”
After 90 minutes, the sky turned pitch black and lightning flashed. The rally was canceled due to safety concerns as thunderstorms moved toward the area and the National Weather Service issued watches and warnings for dangerous winds and hail.
“I'm going to make it up to you soon another time,” Trump said at the rally, which was broadcast over loudspeaker. “We will respond as soon as possible. We are shocked that something like this could happen.”
But the cancellation, which suggested Trump was out of control, underscores the challenges he may face as he attempts to balance his presidential campaign with a busy criminal trial that will run through May. There is.
For much of last week, Trump's public comments were limited to social media posts and remarks to reporters outside court. His only campaign base is a shopping district in New York City, where he lost the past two elections overwhelmingly and there is no election scheduled for November.
Saturday's rally was expected to be a prelude to the coming weeks as Mr. Trump campaigns in battleground states that will be central to his efforts to return to the White House over the weekend.
He has repeatedly said the court case is hampering his campaigning in states such as North Carolina, which he won in 2016 and 2020 but saw Democratic gains in November. Initial arguments are scheduled to begin Monday, and the trial is expected to last six to eight weeks.
As is common at Trump rallies, the crowd began lining up hours before Trump was expected to speak. Some people gathered outside wore shirts with the logo of the Proud Boys, a prominent far-right extremist group. One person held a sign that read “Free all J6 prisoners,” referring to prisoners serving time in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
Trump, who faces four criminal charges, including charges related to his efforts to overturn his election defeat, has recently come into contact with dozens of defendants in the Jan. 6 incident. He called them “hostages” and said he would consider pardoning them.
In a statement, Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa criticized the group's existence, pointing out that Trump told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during the 2020 debate. did.
“This is Donald Trump's America, where white supremacists and violent far-right extremists are empowered and working families are left behind,” Moosa wrote.
Chris Lacivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, responded in a statement: “We don't comment on idiots.”
Trump's comments have come under particular scrutiny given that he is under a gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses in criminal trials, prosecutors, jurors, court officials, as well as their relatives and relatives of judges. It was expected that he would be exposed. Prosecutors have said Trump violated the gag order seven times, and a hearing on the matter will be held on Tuesday.
Trump visited North Carolina earlier in the day and attended a fundraiser in Charlotte in the afternoon. During his call to the rally, he told attendees they were minutes away from “flying into” Wilmington, but that authorities “hope we don't come in,” citing safety concerns. Told.
Trump said he was “truly sorry.” “But we're going to do it again, bigger and better. You have my promise.”
Even after the crowds left to take shelter in their cars, vendors outside still sold a variety of products, some of which were made specifically for the event. One T-shirt advertised what was called the Wilmington stop on Trump's “Save America” tour.
“I was there!” the shirt read. “Where were you???”
robert draper Contributed to the report.