Donald Trump had to cancel his first planned rally since the start of his criminal hush money trial because of a storm in North Carolina, an added complication for the former president and presumptive Republican nominee as he juggles legal troubles and his rematch against President Joe Biden. Trump called into the rally near the Wilmington airport less than an hour before he was scheduled to take the stage and apologized to a few thousand supporters who had gathered throughout the afternoon to express their support for the president.
Quick Read
- Rally Cancellation: Former President Donald Trump had to cancel his first rally since the start of his criminal hush money trial due to a storm in North Carolina. He called into the rally near Wilmington airport to apologize to his supporters and promised to reschedule for a “bigger and better” event.
- Impact on Presidential Campaign: The cancellation adds complexity to Trump’s campaign efforts as he balances running for president with ongoing legal proceedings. His criminal trial, where opening arguments are expected on Monday, will significantly limit his ability to campaign in person.
- Supporter Sentiment: Despite the trial and its demands, Trump’s supporters at the rally expressed strong backing, viewing the multiple criminal indictments as politically motivated attempts to undermine his candidacy. They criticized the focus on prosecuting Trump rather than addressing other societal issues.
- Campaign Strategy: Trump is using the trial as part of his campaign narrative, positioning himself against what he claims is a biased legal system. This approach echoes the populist, anti-establishment themes that have been central to his political identity.
The Associated Press has the story:
Donald Trump has to cancel North Carolina rally because of weather
Newslooks- WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) —
Donald Trump had to cancel his first planned rally since the start of his criminal hush money trial because of a storm in North Carolina, an added complication for the former president and presumptive Republican nominee as he juggles legal troubles and his rematch against President Joe Biden. Trump called into the rally near the Wilmington airport less than an hour before he was scheduled to take the stage and apologized to a few thousand supporters who had gathered throughout the afternoon to express their support for the president.
Trump promised to reschedule a rally at the same location, with a “bigger and better” event.
The cancellation underscores the difficulty Trump faces as he tries to manage a presidential bid with a criminal trial that will keep him in court for most of the week. Opening arguments are expected in the trial on Monday. Voters who had assembled were ready to stand by Trump, echoing his claims that multiple pending criminal indictments are an effort to take down the presumptive Republican nominee — and squelch the people who first propelled Trump eight years ago and want to return him to the White House again.
“It’s political persecution, and if it were anybody else he wouldn’t have to be dealing with it,” said Christian Armstrong, a 28-year-old firefighter who lives in Wilmington and was attending his first Trump rally.
LeeAnn Coleman, a 42-year-old who is in a family restaurant business, said “it’s ludicrous that he’s having to do this at all,” rather than spend time focusing on “all the problems he wants to fix.”
Those sentiments validate or at least reflect Trump’s strategy to use his mandated court time to his advantage by folding the proceedings, the first time an American president has faced felony criminal charges, into the same populist, anti-establishment arguments that first fueled his rise eight years ago.
“They want to keep me off the campaign trail,” the candidate-turned-defendant insisted earlier this week in Harlem, where he visited a neighborhood convenience store and addressed a throng of media outside after spending the day at his own jury selection. Rather than pursue violent criminals, he alleged, “They go after Trump.”
